Serpent's Burrow

[Masked_Felix]

"As I said, a Sharingan that has lost it's light has no value to me" Orochimaru called back, once again. "I'm more interested in how that has not been remedied, Pein." The Sannin could feel the Rin'negan boring into him from behind as he continued.

"According to Jiraiya, Itachi is still wounded and calls out Sasuke's name. You say the reason for that is Itachi escaped to this world after losing to Sasuke. Impossible. I was in Sasuke's body. He had nothing left. I was his only chance for survival, and as much as it pains me to say it, Itachi was still an impossible dream. If he had wanted Sasuke's eyes, he would have them now."

"Something strange is certainly going on, and you haven't presented me the full story. Whatever Itachi's purpose was, it wasn't to obtain Sasuke's eyes, and whatever happened after I was put away made Itachi a hunted man by the Akatsuki" Orochimaru theorized. "As farfetched as such a thing as Uchiha Itachi caring for the wellbeing any person of his own volition may be, I can't help but feel that this deal has strings attached to it." Hmph. Taking Itachi's body only to find that Madara was guarding Sasuke for his own purposes wouldn't do at all. If Itachi was an impossible dream, words to describe the futility of trying to overcome Madara didn't exist.

"I'll be staying in my own body, for now", he finally decided. "If I choose to pursue Itachi once more, it will be when I know all the details to this twisted tale, in a battle of my choosing."

[JAIF]

"For someone who infiltrated Konohagakure with the sole purpose of afflicting a genin with a forbidden Fuuin jutsu, took the guise of the Yondaime Kazekage to assassinate the Leaf's leader, then proceeded to train the renegade sole survivor of the Uchiha clan so well that he could house your soul in his body so that you could eventually claim it, you've grown way too cautious, Orochimaru..."

"...I did not observe the battle first-hand, and Zetsu would not confide everything, even to me. Itachi and Sasuke were both in critical condition - Madara treated Sasuke, but Itachi somehow escaped before Madara got there, coming here. That is all there is to it."

"Do not expect me to repeat my offer. And do not make the mistake of thinking I will not kill you the next time we meet. You are still a runaway, Orochimaru. A runaway who is useful, I could let live. Once he outlives that usefulness..."

He left these ominous words hanging, as he turned back, slowly walking away from the burrow. The first drops of rain followed his words, the water almost imemdiately enveloping the sky in a shroud of grey. Barely visible in that weather, even though he was not really that far away, Pein stopped for a moment and turned back briefly, the Rin'negan glancing at Jiraya.

"Try to stay alive, sensei." He said calmly, his voice devoid of any emotion. "It looks like the world still has some place for you, else you would not have crossed the Six Paths alive. Farewell."

And he vanished.

[Eliwood21]

Jiraiya's stern face watched Pein as he forewarned, and vanished into the rain.

"...Heh, is that so Orochimaru?" Jiraiya stood back up from leaning against the tree.

[Masked_Felix]

"Tch..." Was the last sound that came from the blackness of the burrow. Continuing down into the winding tunnels, Orochimaru contemplated Pein's words, his mood souring slightly. Maybe he had grown too cautious, having his life nearly claimed three times in three years. The reality of just how mortal he was had been thrust upon him again, despite his surpassing of natural death. Whatever Pein said about him, tangling with two of the strongest Uchiha, no - Shinobi he had ever known was a far cry from the Yondaime Kazekage, or even the aged Sarutobi. He would sooner fight a country single handedly than face off against Madara in his present power, and Itachi's Sharingan and Genjutsu mastery would surely pose as great a threat to the host possessing jutsu as Sasuke's, even if he managed to beat the man within an inch of his life. No, his reluctance wasn't caution; it was common sense.

Sitting down by the fire, Orochimaru stirred up the flames again, pulling the now well done rabbit off the spit before taking a voracious bite of the meat. Whether Jiraiya stayed or left made little difference to him. There was much to consider. Pein, Itachi, and the world that he had found himself in.

[Eliwood21]

Jiraiya scratched the back of his head as he stood...the only one left alone after such a high-tense conversation. Tsh, well this sure has become quite an issue. Without looking back, Jiraiya began to head north, looking up to the sky thinking of what could possibly unfold in his future.

Perhaps he will encounter Orochimaru again, perhaps he will fight against Pein yet again....who knows. One thing is for sure....I've got to go find me some ladies~! Jiraiya's laughter was the only thing left in that forest as he jumped up to a tree branch and began travelling off...