"The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends."
Two Cloud Jonin were idly chatting by their look our post as the rain made their job considerably harder. The dull sound of it hitting the ground forced them to speak louder until another noise entered the area. One of the ninja watched in horror so his friend looked over his shoulder. He got to his feet before he also fell in to a shocked panic.
"We need to tell Riakage-sama!" He yelled. The large machines demolished the forests as they moved towards the shore, the flying metallic monsters made even more sickeningly loud sounds as they growled towards the village, the last village still alive. It was what ninja associated with utter annihilation. The amount of technological devices coming towards the Cloud village was a daunting sum. The two ninja turned away from the frightening advance, they raced back to their village, the village they were almost certain would be utterly destroyed by the approach.
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Orochimaru felt the warmth of his partners sleeping form beside him, on his other side he felt the heat of the dog. He couldn't understand why he had woken up, he glanced at the clock, it was far too early in the morning for his mind to switch on. He couldn't shake the feeling and he sat up, his movement had stirred his lover. They had been on strange terms, but they found the quiet nights peaceful enough to forget their own tensions. Kakashi sat up and brushed hair out the Sannins golden eyes which were completely unsettled and alert.
"Is something wrong?" The copy ninja asked.
"I don't know," Orochimaru admitted. He got to his feet, he couldn't shake the feeling and he refused to shut out his instincts. Kakashi watched him from the sheets as Tsukiko lifted his head his bent ears raising.
"You're going to be tired in the morning. Try to go back to sleep," Kakashi said, he didn't want to ignore the others gut feeling, but he sensed nothing so he worried the serpents past was coming back to haunt him, it had many times before. It often kept him up.
"Something isn't right," Orochimaru said, he could feel the tight sensation in his stomach. "Get up."
Kakashi hadn't expected that to come from his lover, but the state he was in proved it was not a simple bad nights dream. He got out of the sheets and came to stand by the shorter ninja, he wanted to sense what he sensed. Equally, he wanted to stop the males distress. They entered the kitchen and turned on the light after getting in to normal fighting attire. Orochimaru went to Saura's room, the copy ninja stopped him.
"Why wake him?" He asked, he didn't care if the man joined them, but he didn't know if the NW would appreciate being woken up when he could offer nothing to the situation. Saura did not deserve the copy ninjas concern but everyone somehow earned it from the protective Jonin.
"He needs to get changed in case," Orochimaru said.
"In case?" Kakashi asked.
"I'm waking him," Orochimaru said entering the room, the copy ninja did not argue again. Something was evidently very wrong. Saura emerged a few minutes after the serpent, he looked alert and nervous.
"What's wrong, are we safe?" He asked.
"I don't think-" the door banged open half way through the snakes words. Several Jonin entered, the broken door frame was shattered on the floor and Tsukiko leapt up fur raised as he fell towards the men. Orochimaru got to the dogs side, he didn't need him getting hurt again. He was pulled away from the hound as he was apprehended. They tied a bandage around the dogs snapping jaws to muzzle him, the serpent objected. He had sensed danger but he had not expected it to be the towns ninja.
"What orders are you following?" Kakashi asked coming to shield the Sannin despite him being the most dangerous person in the room now that he was angered and defensive.
"The Riakage wishes to speak to you. You are to be detained with or without consent," a larger Jonin said. "If you resist we have the right to use force."
"We will go to the Riakage," Orochimaru said. "There was never any need to act so uncivil."
The Jonin eyed him angrily, they did not like the Sannin as it stood, if they had the choice they would harm him even if he obeyed. The Sannin narrowed his eyes, what a pity it was he was too powerful for them to try that.
The Jonin walked up and attempted to pin all three males hands behind their backs. Kakashi told Saura to calm down, that it didn't mean they were unsafe. Orochimaru was firmly of the belief their treatment was unjust.
"We are perfectly capable of walking without such detainment," he hissed. "We are allies not criminals."
"We aren't sure," the woman said.
"We haven't done anything," Kakashi established. "Regardless, for the sake of your leader we will do as you say."
He met eyes with the serpent, commanding him to simply obey their rules, for if they didn't it would likely end worse than it easily could have. Saura was obedient, if a fight broke out he would be killed effortlessly. The ninja would have to protect him and he doubted they would put their own lives at risk for a man no longer needed. Both larger males watched the serpent, his eyes were still defiant but he stopped his complaints sensing the other twos uneasiness. They were used to playing by the book, they were used to doing whatever someone in a higher position ordered. The rogue was not, he knew when to question, when to object. He knew when he was being pushed around and he refused to allow it. For their sake, he decided he would conform. They were roughly shoved out the door their arms now behind their backs as they were forced in to the rain, thankfully the rain was light as their cloaks were on but not drawn over their heads. They were not taken to the Riakage's office, but to a small training field far from the village, beside him was many other ninja of high rank, and then finally the group rested their eyes on Asuma. He looked worried.
"They have found us," the Riakage said gravely. "My men have seen them in their legions, they are almost across the borders and sources have told me that you have brought the enemy here. In fact, you brought the enemy here days ago."
"Get to the point," Orochimaru said his former respect gone. He no longer thought he owed the man such courtesy. He certainly had dropped his friendly facade.
"Watch your mouth," a Jonin snapped. He was silenced by the golden slitted eyes.
"I'd heed your own advice Jonin," he hissed, the threat had sent all the ninja around in to a mild nervous panic. They tried to be brave by their leaders side, but they all knew that even as a group they stood no chance against the legendary Sannin. The Riakage did not have that fear, he had heard the males title, he knew he was known for killing Kage. He was still unfazed.
"That man is no ninja," the Cloud leader said. It fell in to place, the sightings had not been the only reason the town had figured it out, it wasn't enough evidence.
"Bastard," Orochimaru hissed under his breath as he met eyes with Asuma.
"Saura is an NW, he exposed our location," Asuma said. "You two are criminals by association."
"You knew you had an enemy with you but you lied for his sake. You risked us all and now the military is well on its way to the only standing nation," the Riakage said. Saura was too scared to speak, but the copy ninja knew what he wanted to say so he said it for him.
"He did no such thing. He is an NW, but he saw their darker side and fled like any moral man might. He has not contacted them, we kept his secret only because we knew for a fact that he was safe. There are lots of reasons we may have been found," Kakashi said.
"You have lied before. You may very well be lying now," the Riakage said.
"We do not know how they found the village, but we would never wish it upon ourselves. Even if we did not car for this nation, surely you can rationalize and guess that we would never stay in a targeted village," Kakashi said again.
"I don't know your motives, they seem to change. You were a good man Hatake, I have heard good things. It's a pity you have let this rogue influence your ways," The Riakage said with a firm expression. "You have both helped us get to a stronger point in this war. We have developed greatly with your aid. It saddens me, but you will have to face the penalty of treason."
"Death," Orochimaru hissed. "I suggest you reconsider. An army approaches you, and I assure every man on your team will be slaughtered if they dare fight us."
"Kakashi was not a part of it," Asuma said. "He doesn't question the Sannin, he doesn't look in to what he does because he trusts him. This was the snakes doing not his, Kakashi can't be put to death for ignorance."
"I'm as innocent as Orochimaru," Kakashi snapped back, even though the gesture was to help him he took it like a slap to the face. "Whether you convict me with him or not makes no difference. If you raise your blade we raise ours. We do not want to do it, it's your choice."
Lightning buzzed around the Cloud leaders hand as if to answer the very question. The Jonin readied themselves, Asuma and two of men scattered off to go elsewhere, perhaps for back up. Now they knew why they had taken the three somewhere far away, they knew the powerful ninja would fight back. The large man despite his size was fast and he disappeared within moments. His target was the NW, perhaps because he assumed he would be the most unpredictable. He did not know how vulnerable the man truly was without any weapons to his name. Orochimaru countered him now in the form of a large serpent, he coiled his lithe body around the man and managed to tackled him to floor. The giant snake and the large man wrestled for a few moments before a blade slipped form the reptiles mouth. The Riakage allowed a stronger current of electricity to form as it took the shape of a sword. It forced the Sannin to uncoil and back up his blade of Kusangi slashing down as he did so. The cloud leader had taken damage on his torso from the blow as the snake had one running down his own spine. Jonin lunged at the snake but Kakashi intercepted them all easily. He pulled his Konoha headband up to reveal his hidden sharigan and he captured the nearest Jonin. He was then making his way around to them all as he knocked them unconscious. He saw no need to kill men doing their jobs. The Sannin was preoccupied with the Riakage as they fought. He had sustained heavy damage and so had the large man.
Saura looked as if he wanted to run but did not know where to go. Orochimaru scanned the field when he received a moment of pause form the relentless attacks. He could sense more men coming, the two of them would not be able to kill the Riakage before they got there.
"Get Saura out of here," Orochimaru said. He knew he would find it easier escaping a mass crowd than his lover would. His tactics were designed for flight when need be.
"I'm not leaving you," Kakahsi said charging the leader.
"I will find it easier to escape without you. More men are coming, trust me on this I will find you as soon as it is safe to do so," Orochimaru said, they challenged one another with their eyes but the copy ninja decided to for once to obey the others plans. He rushed to Saura and aided the NW away from the scene, he owed the man nothing, he owed the man less than nothing. But it was not in his nature to hold grudges on the battlefield. He would not let a man die because of his own feelings. The Sannin watched them leave, the Kage did not as he attempted to stop them. He was smashed back as he caught his balance a few meters after the crash. Orochimaru stood in his path, his small build a constant mockery to the larger man. How someone so much weaker looking managed to outright deny him every possible exit.
They engaged again as they clashed blades, the Cloud leader got in more blows than the snake did but it was not the pale ninjas concern. He simply regenerated when the damage was too much and as it was he was picking away at the mans own resistance. Then the tables turned out of the Sannins favour as more men came around them to aid their leader. Asuma was with them as he readied their attack, he glanced around trying to locate the other two. He seemed worried when he could not find the copy ninja, he did not want the man to die. He would happily impale the Sannin however. Orochimaru hissed as he was outnumbered, they hadn't simply brought a few teams, they had brought almost hundreds of ninja. He darted around them and although he could evade the masses he could never quite get away from the Kage. He was successfully managing to get rid of the Jonin, he was not as merciful as Kakashi had been and he made sure the men died so they could not get up and fight him again. Orochimaru summoned a large snake, he didn't care if he was seen, the cloud ninja knew he was to be taken down. The three headed colossal serpent arrived angrily as is it witnessed the display against its summoner. Many lives were taken simply upon its arrival, one large head ducked down to shield the Sannin. The cloud leader appeared beside it and used a chakara filled punch to bash the snakes side. It grunted in pain and then snapped a large eye at the Kage.
It whipped around with its tail sending the leader leaping back to avoid devastating damage. Orochimaru left the snake there to fend off the ninja as he raced towards the direction he had seen Kakashi take. He then paused, what would become of Tsukiko back home. He could head back to the village but it seemed painfully dangerous. Regardless of logic saying it was impossible the Sannin found himself within the walls of the nation that wanted him dead. Rain hid him and he pulled the dark hood over his face. He was exhausted already form fighting the Kage and the elite group of ninja. His breaths were ragged as he darted behind walls back towards the residence they had once offered him. He got to the house where he ducked in through the door that was shattered. He heard banging and whining coming from his bedroom. He opened the door and the dog knocked him over as he escaped the confinement. His body was shaking and he refused to stop his loud barking and crying. He was both stressed and relieved to be by the ninja.
"Quiet. We have to leave come on," Orochimaru said. He was doing his best to get the dog to cooperate but it wasn't working and he found he was simply being knocked over all the time. The muzzle lay destroyed on the floor, a testament of the dogs frustration. The ninja soon realized he would have no way of getting the dog out safely. It was pointless to even try with the crippled companion. As he thought it over he sensed someone behind him and he spun around his hood still over his head covering his identity.
He ducked out the way of the kunai aimed at his head, Asuma slammed in to him taking him to the ground as the tumbled a few lengths. They stopped and the larger man was on top of the serpent who hissed in a mixture of anger and panic. Tsukiko barked but he could not enter the fight as he fell when he tried to run. Asuma raised a fist as he pulled the Sannin upwards clasping his cloaks collar. Orochimaru shoved at the man but he knew physical advances would render him on the disadvantaged side of the battle, so instead he allowed the legendary blade to slip out his mouth controlled by an emerald serpent. With the blades unnatural ability to bend the Jonin had to move off to avoid being impaled. Orochimaru used the opportunity to draw his blade and get to his feet in a flash of dark purple and black. They engaged again, it was now an even worse situation. The Sannin did not want to kill the man for the sake of the copy ninja, noting if he did want to he very much could have. He outclassed the man with his skill, if he had managed to kill his father he would have few issues with killing the weaker man. He considered it, it would be so easy, who would know the Sannin had done it. He could end the bloodline right there. Asuma clashed with his sword using a glowing blue blade. Orochimaru hissed, then suddenly all the air he had been struggling to inhale was forced out his lungs by a stronger force. The Riakage had gotten in to the room. Orochimaru lay on his side propped up on one arm as he tried to get up failing twice when his body refused. He could regenerate but it was not physical wounds that plagued him. It was fatigue.
He was one man, they were an army. He could take the ninja of Jonin rankings, he could take all of them. But the Riakage was proving a problem. He felt the man land on top of him but he transformed in to a serpent to gain a power advantage. His now stream line form wrapped itself around the man as he clamped needle like fangs in to his arm and shoulder, the leader roared in pain as he tried to get the snake to release him by sending circuits of blue lightning out. It succeeded as pain was to over bearing to remain close to the man. Orochimaru felt something dig itself deep inside his flesh and he shook from the pain as he thrashed backwards. Asuma still held the short blade which was wedged in the serpent flesh, he pulled it down running a deep gash down the snakes form. Orochimaru tried to evade it by turning human again but Asuma took another blade in his other hand as the man escaped and stabbed him in the side. The Sannin backed up but the cloud leader then appeared next to him as he slammed him into the wall. The blade sunk deeper into his side as it crashed against the wall. He cried out in pain as he slumped to the floor landing on one knee. He tried to get up at a speed quick enough to avoid the next attack but he failed. It resulted in more searing sensations as he struggled to remain focused on battle. Tsukiko howled loudly, uselessly, even desperately.
The Sannin watched the man approach him, he wanted to regenerate but he was out of chakara from fighting the many men and highly skilled Kage. Golden eyes traced every step the larger man took as he gained on his prey, Asuma was waiting a few breaths away dare the serpent try escape. Orochimaru flicked his attention for a brief moment to his lovers friend, he had a feeling it would be that man who cost him his life. But it would not be today, he was bloodied but the blade was still wedged in his side and he did not yet risk bleeding to death. When the man was close enough the Sannin placed a bloodied hand to the wall as he changed his form. The Riakage was too late to avoid the Sannins counter attack. His demonic appearance had the man shifting away after he regained himself from the blast backwards. The white serpent made up of many other smaller snakes hissed as it reared around the room. His golden eyes were marked by black as they locked on to the two figures his view on the world different now that he shared much of his abilities with a snake. He had black spikes crowning his serpentine head, it was the monster he had become when he had done one too many experiments on himself. He'd call it a transformation but it was not, it required no chakara, he could simply turn in to the snake hybrid.
The two men looked with mixed horrors at the demonic creature, although the snakes face was long like most reptiles it had an air of human quality to it. Not enough to pin point but enough to mark its intelligence and evolution.
"What is that?" The Riakage asked with a composed expression.
"Fucking freak," Asuma growled. The snakes on the white serpents body came to life as they snapped fanged poisonous jaws at the two males. They did their best to avoid them, one hit would be critical so they had very little room for error. Tsukiko stood frightened in the corner, he could smell it was the Sannin but he could not fathom the fearsome change. Orochimaru looked over at the companion unsure of how to console him during battle, it wasn't possible. He wasn't prepared to leave the dog and he could fend the two men off but that wasn't going to be enough. He had to get out before the NW military arrived. He saw a glint of blue behind him and he almost sunk his fangs in to the source. He stopped himself when the familiar chakara caught his sense. Kakashi slammed his chidori in to the cloud leaders chest and he was sent crashing away. Asuma still targeted the Sannin, he was evidently loyal to the copy ninja no matter the situation. It didn't matter, he was easy prey for the serpent. He did not poison him, especially now that Kakashi was in the room. Orochimaru saw his lover create a few hand signs as he landed beside the scared dog. Tsukiko flashed worried eyes at him and attempted to bite him in defence when he placed a quick hand on him. Thankfully the dog missed as he went up in smoke. The Sannin was confused, he wondered where the copy ninja had sent him, he prayed it was somewhere smart.
Since the dog was now gone he was no longer bound to the house, he slipped around the room and slammed his long body of snakes into both males. Kakashi glanced up at the serpent with no fear at all, he was requesting they run, the serpent complied as he returned to his human form. They disappeared out the window as both males tried to catch up. Although the Riakage was by standard the faster ninja, speed did not make a difference when his targets were gone from sight their chakara unable to be detected. They were in the forest, Kakashi took the lead as he knew where he had left Saura last. As they leapt over branches and evaded being found by any lurking ninja they heard the troubled sound of the NW man. He sounded as if he were in pain and distress, he sounded like an animal caught in a trap. Orochimaru now aware of exactly where he needed to be sped up and took the lead. A second too late could mean the mans death and he was fully aware of just how fragile humans were.
Orochimaru was the first to arrive at the scene when he was certain whoever was harming Saura was no ally. He drew his blade forgetting his exhaustion and injuries as he materialized in front of the NW who was on the floor clutching his arm. Three ninja looked wide eyed at the Sannin, they had thought the other man an easy target so they entered the battle in a small number, but they had no realized they would fight the legendary ninja. Kakashi arrived on the scene but it was only moments after the Sannin had slit all three of their enemies throats. Blood gushed from their fatal wounds as their lifeless eyes rolled slightly backwards. Orochimaru looked back at Saura to check how severe the damage was. It wasn't what the serpent had wanted to see, blood soaked most of his chest despite his focus being on his arm. He was panicked beyond help as he muttered he did not want to die, and he surely would if he was not healed. Orochimaru dropped down beside him and tried his best to console the mortally injured male, it was doing nothing and the rain was causing the damage to appear worse.
"Kakashi we need to take him to a shelter," Orochimaru said his voice hinging on stressed.
"All right. He will be fine," Kakashi said reassuring his lover more than the NW. The copy ninja picked the other man up and darted off in to the trees with him. He wasn't being an easy patient but they soon found their way to a dark cave. They stayed near the entrance so they could see better as they assessed the damage properly.
"We need to stop the bleeding," Orochimaru said as he removed his own cloak, he had used it to save Tsukiko when he had lost his leg, he supposed it was time to part with the clothing for good. He tore some of it in to shreds so that they could layer the wound with bandages. Kakashi wanted to offer his lover his cloak to replace the one the serpent had just destroyed to patch up the NW, but he sensed the Sannin was in no mood for worrying about the cold. He would have to wait for a better time, or else risk the golden eyes reprimanding his bad timing. Orochimaru had seen Kabuto and Tsunade stabilize many victims and he mimicked what they did using his own basic first aid knowledge. Saura was losing much blood, too much to ensure his survival, the Sannin knew that what he had done had spared him for the time being, but it would not be enough. They needed help or the man was sure to die.
"That's all we can do," Orochimaru said, he wanted his lover to tell him he was wrong, to find another option.
"We can't look for a medic. None of them will help us now," Kakashi said. The snake nodded, perhaps not, perhaps they were stranded in the forest void of any means to save the NW. But he had watched too many things suffer in war, and he had a habit of never quitting. He would search for help, for a way to save him. He would keep trying until the man took his final breath. He owed him for all the times he was saved, it wasn't an act of mercy as much as an act of justice. He hated owing people, and so he would do his best to ensure he no longer did.
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Deidara swooped. ahead of the military drones, they had underestimated the ninja greatly. They had brought hundreds of military machinery and yet it was almost seemingly futile now that their machines could not lock the ninjas chakara. The gates of the Cloud nation were still untouched as shinobi met the military before it arrived by their homes. Orders were given through panicked commands as the men tried to stop the shinobi from killing them all. Winning was no longer an option, Saura had exposed all their weaknesses, he had given them ways to go around certain techniques the NWs had relied on. Kakashi had trained the Jonin and Chunin, he had ensured they were up to standard to face guns and bombs, he had taught them how to be better in their approaches. Orochimaru had made them immune to enemy attacks, he had deprived the enemy of their main weapon, allowing shinobi to fearlessly engage without the risk of losing their jutsu. The three males who had been turned on were greatly to thank for the success, but they did not get to stand in the glory of the victory. They were equally as in danger from the army of determined cloud ninja. The blond rogue scanned the battle field as he sent more bombs to counter the last few standing machines. No word had been given about the three males being put to death, and so the artist was puzzled as to where his friend had ended up. Surely he would be equally as interested in this fight. Surely his natural fighting ability would be easily spotted among the less talented ninja.
Even Kakashi, they were too powerful to overlook and the blond had a bird's eye view of the village and battle field. He turned the white clay bird around as he soared over the land, he wanted to find them, he wanted to know neither one had gotten hurt. No matter how many times he circled the village he could not locate them. The military withdrew its men, the last few alive. Many shinobi lost their lives, but the number paled in comparison to the NWs. It was the greatest loss for Satoru and his men, and in a hasty retreat the last surviving city fighters had chosen to hide in the forests. Ninja moved out to find them, they did not tolerate anyone being a survivor.
"Deidara!" A voice called, the blond looked over his shoulder.
"Asuma," he replied landing his bird so the man could speak to him at a normal volume.
"We are heading to the city," he said. "We can end them now. We have the power to do so, look at how easily we stopped their advances. We can't give them the opportunity to gain power. We must go now. We will need you to get back in to the dome."
"Of course, it's about time," Deidara said eager to end the seemingly recurring battle. "Have you seen Orochimaru?"
"No," Asuma lied. "He likes to remain hidden if he can, he strikes when no one is looking. Word will reach him, he will come to the city and fight with us I'm sure."
Deidara took his word for it, he didn't know the man was simply saying what he knew the artist wanted to hear. Asuma needed the rogue, and so he decided the truth would be a disaster.
With the city open to attack the ninja all abandoned their nation to head to their chosen battle. Those who could not fight remained behind, although they were in equal high spirits as they watched the shinobi leave for what they assumed would be their greatest moment. The artist kept his eyes out for the two ninja he knew, he never found them.
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"Someone is coming," Kakashi alerted the other two males, Orochimaru came to stand beside him. His eyes picked up on what the large thing was.
"It's a military van," the Sannin said.
"They may have something we can steal to heal Saura," Kakashi offered.
"Is it Satoru?" Saura asked through a pained but hopeful voice. "Take me to him, he will help me I know he will."
"I don't think Satoru is here," Orochimaru said. "Only his men."
"Tell them I'm here, they'll help me they have to," Saura pleaded. The two ninja were not sure, they couldn't decide if he was being honest or if he was merely desperate.
"You betrayed them," Kakashi said rationally. "I don't think he will help."
"He doesn't know that," Saura said determinedly. "He may just think I was curious. He doesn't know I gave out his secrets, he doesn't know I knew his secrets."
The two ninja met eyes, it was their only option, even if they stole it would be useless. They didn't know how to work the technology and Saura was barely able to talk let alone able to use the devices.
"Let me go ask," Orochimaru said. "Worst case I'll kill them."
"I'll come with," Kakashi said.
"Stay with him. You look more competent than I do in terms of fighting. They'll be less fearful of just me approaching," Orochimaru said.
The copy ninja allowed it, if they attacked he would be close enough to get to his lover. Still, they were unpredictable and the Sannin approached them with great caution. He didn't know what they were capable of, but he knew they were willing to do anything to get what they wanted. When they spotted him their eye flew wide and they raised their guns, the Sannin stopped dead when he saw them. Fear gripped at his every bone, he wasn't used to having any fears and the feeling was unnatural to the serpent. The men watched him, they knew which ninja he was, the one who had escaped and caused them trouble over and over again.
"One of your men is injured, he needs your help," Orochimaru said his eyes tracing the metallic rims of the guns. The soldiers looked over at one another their weapons still raised and ready. "It's Saura, he says you will help him under your Imperials orders. He is dying."
"Where is he?" One man said, he seemed to recognize the urgency seemingly also under the impression it would be Satoru's will to see the man live.
"He ran, isn't he a traitor?" Another man stated.
"Satoru said we mustn't kill him if we find him," the first man challenged.
"He didn't say we had to risk our lives saving him," a new man added.
"I'll go then, cowards," the first man shot. He remained where he was however, going anywhere with the ninja was evidently too dangerous. Orochimaru didn't feel it right to point out if he wanted them dead he would have done so already and spared an elaborate lie.
Then again the NWs thought them to be savages it was only natural they didn't trust any of them, least of all one who had doomed them before. After a few more minutes one of the men went to the back of the van and spoke in to a metallic device. Then a voice answered, it was familiar, it was Nya.
"Satoru has confirmed you must help him and bring him home. Hand me to the ninja," Nya said once the story had been relayed. It seemed as if she was also communicating with Satoru at the same time, as if she was still asking for his command. Orochimaru looked puzzled when the man nervously handed the device to him. It was similar to a phone but it lacked a screen and instead simply had a speaker.
"Ninja- Orochimaru, correct?" Nya said she had changed her tone, she had become more respectful. Taking the device with care the Sannin watched the men move around him with machines he assumed would heal Saura. Kakashi stood at the entrance watching them come and curiously inspecting what his lover was doing.
"Nya," Orochimaru answered, she wanted something he could tell.
"Word has been sent to us by our drones. We hear you and the ninja stand on opposite sides to one another," Nya said, she got right to the point. "As it remains you and your friend are now neither one of us nor one of the ninja, you are wedged in between two armies with none of your own. We have an offer."
"We will not attack our own," Orochimaru said his voice unshaken. She paused before she spoke again.
"We would never expect you to," Nya said. "What we are offering is something different. We need your help protecting our men. The Superior has requested to see you in person. You have nothing to lose coming in to our city. You have cured yourselves as to speak. Bring your friend, the Superior has a proposal he wishes to tell you in person."
"We could walk in to an ambush," Orochimaru said.
"We have little to gain by ambushing you alone. Ninja are heading our way, we have bigger matters to worry about than two rogues," Nya admitted. Satoru's voice was heard in the background as he yelled at the men in the military. He sounded stressed. It wasn't surprising, the ninja could easily destroy the entire NW civilization. He was in charge of stopping that but he had no means to do so. He would take the guilt with every building that fell down.
"Will your men escort us there?" Orochimaru asked after a moments thought.
"Of course, free safe passage," Nya said her voice jumped in hope. She had hated him, he knew that, she sounded as if she had changed her tune when her soldiers had failed and the one she detested became her only means of survival. A common enemy could make rivals unite. One of the soldiers beside the Sannin had kept up with the conversation, he approached the smaller ninja as one might a lion.
"We will take you to the city under our imperials orders," he established. The Sannin handed him back the device as he nodded. He returned to Kakashi and told him of the plan, the copy ninja seemed hesitant but he agreed it was an option they may as well try given their current situation. That and he knew that the Cloud leader was bound to order the entire slaughter of the NW city. Thinking back he had met many nicer men and women, he had seen children and it had reminded him of the weak that always got caught in between a war. It wasn't fair and the copy ninja refused to see ninja kill thousands of innocent lives. That was why Kakashi decided it was best to see if he could help. The Sannin had simply seen it as a possible means of escape. He was bound to die if he did not take the opportunity. The soldiers worked on Saura and he was healed, still the man seemed to be in shock. He wasn't equipped for war, he had no training. They got on to a helicopter that landed beside the van which the two ninja had originally spotted. It took off in a loud blast making the two ninja shift uncomfortably. It was not as natural a feeling as Sasuke's off balanced hawk and Deidara's clay birds. It did its job however and the city came in to view, from the sky the land was easy to see, when they departed they could see the ninja preparing to leave. It looked somewhat eerie when hundreds of ninja exited the island and jumped on to the sea walking across the water in a black swarm. They were so small from the height the ninja watched at, but due to their masses they appeared to cover the blue of the ocean.
The NWs were more frightened of it than the ninja, it was them who the threat was aiming at. It was their families and homes, their lives which would be forever ruined.
"I already know the proposal," Orochimaru said. "He is going to ask us to guard his men. His men will do the fighting, we must simply save the civilians."
"That isn't unreasonable," Kakashi said. "I don't think the civilians should get harmed."
"Yes, but that being said the ninja will see it as the final betrayal," Orochimaru said. "We will quite literally be standing on the enemies side."
"The innocence of the city is not my enemy, it shouldn't be theirs either," Kakashi said his stare some what angered. The anger was not directed at the serpent who knew that fact well. It was angry that the world was such a cruel unjustified place. "But I know what you are saying. If that is what they think so be it. I honestly don't know how to feel about this, I want to honour my village, I want to be a good shinobi, but that contradicts itself when I aim my blade at a citizen."
"My dear pleasing the world is not near possible. And being in a nation does not mean you are a good shinobi. I know awful me who are nation bound and good men who are rogues. You don't get your morals from anyone else but yourself. If you truly want to help those who need it then perhaps this is your chance to not be a member of any one place. Save whoever you deem needs saving," Orochimaru said. "You can't do what is right if you are doing what others tell you to do."
The copy ninja had never seen it like that, he had been taught rogues where bad people and that it was a dishonour. His father flashed in to his mind. He had done what was right and he was scorned for it. Perhaps the village did not always do what was best. Perhaps there was more truth to what the snake said.
"Are you suggesting we be rogue after this?" Kakashi asked, he didn't have any answers himself this time around, so he wanted to know the others opinion. He often saw ways out of impossible situations.
"You love your home," Orochimaru said. "If it loved you it would forgive you for doing what you thought was right. If that is the case then you can blend the two worlds of morals and order. If it is not then you must choose between what is right and what you want."
"What do you want?" Kakashi asked.
"To live without war and to exist without judgement," Orochimaru said. "But ultimately to see you no longer bound by your own guilt. You can't be perfect, if you let someone down it is not to say you didn't do all you could. Do what's best at the time my love, don't let others hold you hostage by using your kind nature against you."
"You give me too much credit," Kakashi laughed lightly.
"You give yourself too little," Orochimaru replied with a serious expression, he never cared for people, but when he did he cared deeply. "To answer your question of right now, I say we help the NWs. The ninja will kill us on the spot. I'm not certain the city will withstand an attack, we can make it so they do. The ninja will go home to plan their next advance and the NW city may stand a chance at survival. Then maybe once there is a moments pause we try make a negotiation."
Kakashi admired his ability to rationalize in even the darkest hours. It was something he never thought he would manage, he let grief get to him so quickly.
"Of course. We can try convince the NW army and the ninja to stop warring, we can try living in a separated harmony," Kakashi said, Orochimaru gave him a look that stated it was idealistic.
"Or at least that we can ignore one another's existence," Orochimaru said adding a sense of realism to the sentiment. The copy ninja nodded, he supposed it was more likely.
The flying machine landed when it reached the city and they allowed the soldiers to disembark first. The ninja were nervous as they exited, or at least the copy ninja was, from what he could see his lover had no hint of worry, not until he spotted a gun. Saura was helped out the chopper and despite no longer having any injuries he seemed to somewhat limp, almost as if his mind couldn't keep up with the process of everything. They were lead somewhere they had never been before, the city they landed in was not the one they were originally held captured inside. It was far greener and the buildings appeared far more advanced than the others. The streets they moved through were clean and large statues marked many parks. What was most mentionable was the large expanse of green leading up to a giant castle like building.
"Orochimaru, Kakashi," Satoru said as he elegantly propelled himself down from his own chopper his cape dancing its usual elaborate way. He strode to them with the hint of stress marring his features, Nya exited after him. "Glad you chose to come. At least some civility remains between us. May I lead you to the Superior then."
"We hope civility runs both ways," Orochimaru said. "The army approaches, I think it's best we speed this along."
"Of course, come this way," Satoru said as he took the lead. They followed unquestioningly, they got in to a car to drive through the expanse of garden, driving along a paved stone road running up to the domain. It was a grand entrance the ninja acknowledged, but they both agreed it was a waste of space. No one needed such a garden. They supposed it was the natural greed of the NW society.
They got to the entrance where they left the car behind to enter the marble hall, it was decorated in everything one would expect royalty to acquire. The curtains draped and the carpets had no trace of dirt. It was pristine in every sense and the furniture was all expensive looking rather than well chosen. The ninja didn't really see the value in material things, Orochimaru would be more impressed with a well-stocked library and the copy ninja a safe looking training ground. They thought practically. They were given a small tour of the apparent house until they reached a grand looking door with an even grander looking handle. Satoru knocked a few times and then opened signalling the ninja do as he did, he bowed by dipping his head and upper body. The Superior watched him pleased by the formal greeting. Kakashi dipped his head with slightly less formality, it was clear he was doing it only because it was what the man wanted and he thought it to be so trivial he didn't much care. The serpent didn't even bother try, he refused to bow to the man. After all that was all he was. He didn't look grand no matter how long this cape hung down, the blue fabric must have cost a great sum, the words NW marked on the back in a satiny blue. He was tall in stature, but he was nothing worth respecting, he was not the Sannins leader. The Hokage himself could not get the snakes respect. A title meant very little to the serpent, he would only give you due respect, and he was yet to hear anything great of the man.
Satoru passed the serpent nervous eyes, Nya seemed to want to laugh. She met eyes with the serpent and Orochimaru could only best describe her stare as encouraging and grateful. She seemed to think the action perfect, evidently she praised Satoru and didn't fancy the king of kings.
"Lord Superior," Satoru said. "These are the two ninja now rogues of their own kind capable of saving us from the rest of their people. Orochimaru, Kakashi, we want to offer you a compromise for your help."
The Imperial now smaller looking beside the other mans arrogance stepped away to allow his father to do as he wished. Orochimaru looked away from Nya and resisted the urge to smile, he had thought her a fool before, but now he saw she may have more to her. At the very least she did not kiss the mans feet because of a title. Saura entered the room after knocking once, he seemed rather nervous as his eyes flittered between everyone, namely the apparent Superior.
"Lord Superior." Saura greeted coming to stand by the other two NWs. The two ninja wondered if he regretted ever leaving the safe walls. He had certainly doomed his own kind and while doing so doomed himself.
"Ninja, as I'm sure you've been told we wish to make a compromise. Your people hate you, wish to see you dead. My people and I simply want to live," the Superior said. "To fare well in this attack we need all the aid we can get. Do not underestimate my military, we do not need you to survive this, but we certainly would do better being your friend than your enemy."
The arrogance in his voice almost made the serpent refuse the deal. Thankfully Kakashi spoke.
"We will not strike our own men down. We will defend your citizens and your borders. We want to stop this from becoming a battle, but since that isn't possible we will settle for ending it quickly with as few casualties as possible. If we do this, we want your agreement that you will leave the ninja alone from here on out. If our people cannot coexist, if we fight over superiority, then it is best we come to a peace treaty," Kakashi said, he was calm and confident. "You can leave it up to us to negotiate with the ninja once they return to Cloud. That is our only request and we refuse anything other than that."
"My people always place Lord Superior before they address me," the Superior said, as if it were the important part of the sentence. Kakashi didn't care about his rudeness, he just wanted an agreement, his lover however didn't tolerate it. A hiss entered the room and silenced it.
"We are not your people," Orochimaru stated.
"Orochimaru, you and I will struggle being allies I can see, " the Superior said. "You do not know how to respect people above you. Your friend and I will hopefully make you realize the error in your ways, for now let's get back to what is important."
"You are the leader of my people's greatest foe-" the Sannin was cut off.
"They're no longer your people either. May you remember that. You are alone, we need you but you certainly need us," the Superior said.
"We have differing views on that. We didn't wish to see your men fall to the hands of ninja because of bad leadership," the Sannin said taking a fully intended jab at the mans faults as the commander. "If you are so arrogant as to rather demand a title than aid then perhaps we should take our leave. Either respect us as equals or this conversation ends here."
It was clear the Superior wasn't used to people speaking back, his pride was almost exploding out of him. However the Sannin had locked him in to only two choices, losing the ninja that despite his lie he desperately needed, or else lower himself off his high horse. He chose a third option.
"I accept your proposal Kakashi," he said now ignoring the serpents presence. They supposed avoiding the Sannin was the only way he wouldn't lose to him. After all since winning wasn't an option he may as well deny him the chance to beat him by pulling out. The serpent wouldn't allow it.
"I won't tolerate being avoided, answer my request it comes before our answer. You claim to be the leader of these people," Orochimaru said folding his arms over his chest. "You cannot avoid the argument because you cannot win, as you cannot avoid this war because you share a similar fate. Do we stand on common ground or should me and my friend leave."
It was clear the man was irked, he most likely usually got his way and avoided what he wanted to. Meaning he was not at all used to losing, a feeling that he clearly wasn't on good grounds with. He seemed speechless as the snake watched him, his words cutting. Satoru jumped to his fathers defence, Nya had a glint of utter satisfaction in her eyes.
"The Superior means no disrespect and I'm sure neither do you. Everyone here is equal, war waits for no one so let us agree now and go on our separate ways," Satoru said dropping his own pride for the sake of the older mans. "We accept your deal, and we thank you for the aid. At the end of this war you are safe in our borders. We will stay far from the lands of the ninja and they must stay far from us. That will be the arrangement. Never shall we cross paths again."
"We accept that. I assume you will release all the ninja in your custody as well?" Orochimaru asked his mind flashing to all the faces he had run into along the way.
"Yes," Satoru said. "Every single one."
"Then if you're both agreeing to this we will go plan to help stop the advancement of the army," Orochimaru said. Kakashi glanced over to see what the Superior was doing. He was angry and didn't know how to compose that. Evidently he did not like the fact that the Sannin had not backed down to his whim. He had underestimated the small ninja, he had seen his seemingly weak build and expected it to be the same inwards. It was quite the opposite. A fiery spirit trapped in a deceptive slim figure. The two ninja parted ways with the man when the contract was sealed, they needed to assess just how bad the situation was. Nya met them outside just as Saura did. They glared at one another, almost in a manner of sibling rivalry. Orochimaru and Kakashi halted their advancements, Orochimaru knew there was one thing he wanted to do before they proceeded. He had not forgotten about Manda in the military base, since Nya was here he decided he would request it now.
"Can you release Manda?" Orochimaru asked, the woman looked at him, she didn't hold as much resentment, somewhere he had earned her trust when he agreed to their terms without conforming to their will.
"Your summoning, if he will aid us and not target us in revenge then of course," Nya said. "I came here to give you this, it will allow you free pass in the city. You're under our protection now, Satoru wishes to discuss war strategy with you as soon as you're done planning yourselves."
"We shouldn't need to discuss plans there is only one way to go about this. We want to assess the cities and see how we will evacuate your civilians. That is top priority. We can go to the ninja before they reach you and try to persuade them that there will be no need for war," Orochimaru said his calculating eyes meeting the women's easily, she nodded.
"All right, I will inform the Imperial. We have bomb shelters, will that work as a sanctuary to safe keep our men for the time being?" Nya asked.
"If it is out of the way then yes, any place they can't be caught in between our armies," Orochimaru said. "There is one issue remaining. What do we do about the shinobi inside the dome? If we give them back the ninja may be more inclined to believe us, however if we give them back the shinobi army will technically grow tremendously, if they decide to fight regardless the odds are stacked against this city."
"Perhaps we split the ninja and citizens up in to different bomb shelters? If the ninja don't attack we release them, if they do we ward them off and wait until they agree before releasing them," Kakashi offered.
"We will have to convince the ninja in the bomb shelter as well, or they may rise up when we free them," Orochimaru acknowledged. "But yes that is the only way."
Nya and Saura allowed them to finish as it was clear they understood ninja warfare much better than they could ever hope to. Once they were done Nya confirmed that she would report back to the Imperial. It was now up to the two ninja to head to the army. News reports spread, the citizens would be relocated on their masses as would the ninja.
The military worked tirelessly to get it done quickly, they didn't want anyone left in the city. It was inevitable that there would be casualties, the poorer class was seen to last naturally and the ninja could only pity them. They could do no more as they had a job to do which if succeeded could save them in the process.
"Stay safe," Saura said in farewell as he walked them to the gate. The ninja met his eyes, he had more to say but the words seemed to never reach his tongue.
"And to you," Kakashi said.
"If things go our way this will not be our final moment together," Orochimaru said trying his best to keep up a sense of optimism.
"But in case it is," Saura said, he paused. "Thank you, for treating me as a ninja when I never managed to show you we were equals. Our lack of humanity earned us no favours and yet you stand by our side. For all its worth you have changed my way of thinking, and soon enough maybe you will change the cities. I'd be honoured if we met again."
"Then make it so," Orochimaru said with a kind smile, "I want to see you after this war Saura."
Saura nodded gratefully, his need to be one of the ninja, their abilities glorified in his mind, made him finally see eye to eye with them. One out of the thousands, it was a great step regardless. The NW watched the ninja leave as they said what they hoped would not be forever.
They leapt through the branches, the NW technology was most certainly faster than going on foot and it took far less energy. The ninja still preferred their own methods but that was probably due to familiarity. They were gaining on the army, they could hear the heavy sound of thousands of feet hitting the earth in a determined and confident stride. They sounded ready to kill.
Authors note- this story is coming to a close soon, hope everyone who is reading is enjoying it so far! Let me know in the comment section, and thank you to the guest who posted on the last chapter, I'm glad you do not mind the OC's I generally don't like adding them but I don't like changing Canon characters personalities for the sake of my story so making a new guy play the part rests easier for me! Thank you for the lovely words though! I enjoyed it.
And as always a huge thank you to Vampiredoll666! Still being awesome as ever!