Serpent's Burrow

[Masked_Felix]

*This happened sometime in the undefined past, prior to the pub entry, since I'm currently somewhere else*

Walking along through the silent night woods he had found himself in looking for any kind of civilization, Orochimaru kept his sinister eyes open. He was also looking for food. Having not eaten since that morning, he was quite hungry. Suddenly, a rabbit shot away through the underbrush, breaking the silence. Orochimaru wasn't about to give up such an opportunity, so he lept into the branches and pursued his lunch with vigor. As it darted this way and that, desperately trying to avoid it's imminent capture, the Sannin slithered through the trees after his prey. Having focused so hard on the fleeing animal, Orochimaru didn't notice that he was in a clearing until he had jumped out into it. That wasn't what was most important at the moment, however.

" Seneitajashu", he said in conjunction with outstretching his hand towards the fleeing rabbit. Suddenly, snakes charged forth from under his sleeve, moving like a bullet towards their prey. They quickly caught up to the animal and wrapped around it's body to prevent further resistance. One snake coiled rapidly around it's neck, and with a twist and a satisfying crunch, dinner was served. The snakes retreated back to the sleeve of their master who moved to pick up his prize. As he reached the dead rabbit, Orochimaru found something of possibly even greater interest. Hidden by the grass and the dark from long distance, there was a huge tunnel descending into the earth. Picking up his lunch by the ears, Orochimaru made his way into the hole. It reminded him a bit of some of his old hideouts, and a new residence to call his own had it's merits.

The tunnel was certainly to his liking. There were twists and curves that lead into wide chambers and other tunnels. As Orochimaru reached one such intersection of three tunnels, he began to hear hissing sounds. Turning around, a large snake, nearly as big as the tunnel itself, was staring down on him. Similar sounds from his left and right revealed that he was indeed surrounded by the creatures. The one to his front began closing in, and suddenly opened it's mouth and snapped it's long neck forward like lightning, baring it's fangs in directly in front of the Sannin's face. Orochimaru remained motionless. He had dealt with snakes all his life, and certainly knew how to deal with this one. Instead of taking an offensive, he simply raised his head, so that his eyes met with that of his attacker's.

At the sight of his serpentine pupils, the large snake hesitated for a moment, and then closed it's mouth, curiously examining the pale, teenage boy. To show that he meant no harm, Orochimaru tore a leg off of the dead rabbit and offered it up to the massive reptile. After a few taste testing flicks of the tongue, the offering was accepted and gobbled down. Satisfied that the human boy was a friend, the snakes on the left and right receded back from whence they came and the large snake in front turned, inviting Orochimaru to follow.

After taking a few passages that he had neglected to explore earlier, Orochimaru and his guide arrived at one of the wide expanses in the burrow. This one wasn't empty, however. Many snakes were coiled around the chamber, and on one side, there were young snakes slithering around their mother. Interested in them, Orochimaru made his way over, and bent down to inspect them. The were very young indeed, not more than a few weeks old, though their size didn't suggest it. Some were as big as four feet long, which wasn't strange at all considering the behemoth parents they had. One in particular caught his attention over the rest. It was a young snake that had left it's mother's security to crawl over to the human. Sitting down against the wall, Orochimaru let it crawl up his arm and noticed that it had small, hornlike features on it's head. Indeed, it reminded him very much of Manda, the snake summon that he had grown up with, right down to it's purple scales. The thought brought a scowl to his face as he remembered that Manda got toasted due to Sasuke being a raging twit. He often thought the boy had done so to add insult to injury, just in case Orochimaru was watching the outside world through the Uchiha's eyes, which he was.

His reminiscence was cut short as he felt the rabbit in his left and being inspected by the young snake. Apparently it was hungry. With a sigh, Orochimaru tore pieces off of the rabbit and fed it piece by piece to the little serpent. He could last until the next day without food and he wasn't too keen on having to go back outside to gather the materials cook the thing anyway. Full and satisfied, the young snake, instead of heading back to it's mother, coiled in his lap and fell asleep. Looking down at the audacious creature with a snort, Orochimaru decided that it couldn't be helped and leaned his head against the earthen wall and drifted to sleep as well.

*glimpse into the past finished*

[Masked_Felix]

While sitting by the fire he had built in the hatching chamber in order to dry, Orochimaru worked on skinning another rabbit he had caught on his way back. Finally pulling the last bit of white fur and skin away from the tender pink flash, he shoved the meat on a sharpend stick and held it across the flickering tongues of the hungry flames, slowly rotating it to make sure it cooked evenly, not to mention tastily. The young, horned snake was next to his right again, looking first at the meat, then the fire, then him, and then the meat again. It was a a good snake, to be sure. It would grow to be a large, strong specimen. If it was trained now, it's battle capabilities might even rival that of Manda. Some of the other snakes could be trained in the way of the Ninja as well, which would be an asset in protecting this place that had now become somewhat of a home. As he looked around at the chamber of sleeping and drowsy creatures, though, he realized that the first thing he was going to need to do is teach these things to talk.

[Eliwood21]

Deep within the forest a few meters from the dark, hidden tunnel, a poof of smoke strikes the ground flowing up in the air. Almost in that same second, Jiraiya appears within the smoke....still holding the saki bottle in his right hand which he took with him from the pub. Letting out a sigh of relief, Jiraiya swept off a bead of sweat from the movement. "I swear I need to lay off the alcohol...that child looked too much like Naruto. Still if that was so...how can it be? Does this mean this place is still part of my world? .....grr.....this is just too much."


After tossing the empty bottle of saki over his shoulder, Jiraiya walked over to a nearby stump that leveled up to his knees and took a squat on top of it, rubbing his temples with his left hand. Jiraiya reached into his jacket, took at his most recent novel, Make-Out Shenanigans, and opened it to the page he had recently stopped at. Shortly after beginning, Jiraiya was already blushing red and giggling as he read.

[Masked_Felix]

In the process of eating his meal and giving scraps to the hatchling, Orochimaru noticed that something had put it on edge. It was looking at the roof of the chamber and tasting the air, coiled in a manner that suggested that it had indeed sensed a potential danger. Ceasing his movement, Orochimaru strained his senses, trying to catch whatever it was that had now made all the conscious snakes in the chamber wary. Then, he heard it; giggling. Perverted giggling. Glancing down at the horned serpent, Orochimaru smiled. It was exceptional indeed if had had not only noticed a man's presence before him, but before any of the other snakes as well.

'Kukuku. You'll make a fine guardian indeed, my little friend.'

His thoughts were cut short as he noticed that some of the larger snakes were already making their way out of the den for the surface. Some poor idiot was going to be snake food. With a sigh, Orochimaru lifted himself to his feet. He might as well go see whoever it was before he let the snakes gobble him whole. They might have valuables better utilized undigested. In a burst of silent motion he was on his way to the surface, zipping in front of the large alpha snake a few yards from the opening. Motioning for it to stay there, he crept to the surface.

Giggling was still to be heard, louder than ever. Annoyed, Orochimaru looked for the source of the racket. Truth be told, he was a little surprised. He had thought no one could produce such a perverted sound but Jiraiya. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he saw the Toad Sennin facing the other way on a stump not ten feet from him. The giddy man would write in his book for a moment, sit back to think, and then erupt in blushing giggles and a big goofy grin before the process repeated like clockwork.

Orochimaru crouched there, stunned and mouth agape. The temporary paralysis was brought on mostly by disgust at the awkward actions of the other man, but also by surprise that he was even there. Just how many Ninja had made their way to this strange place? Could it be that Pein had followed him here and this was a henge while an attack was made from behind after he exposed himself?

Once again, he was broken from his thoughts by the black striped hatchling brushing against his heel. Looking down at it, Orochimaru had an idea. He picked up the young snake carefully he cocked back his arm. If this was truely Jiraiya, there would be no way for it not to end in comedy. He threw the snake the Sage in a manner that made it tumble and flail around, desperately seeking something to latch onto, that something happening to be Jiraiya's head.

[Eliwood21]

[OOC: That better be a rubber snake. >:| lol]

OH THIS IS TOO GOOD! Jiraiya continued to write down ideas that revolved around.....well, things..... yeah, let's go with that.... as he gasped and laughed at the ideas. Suddenly he felt a thud against the back of his head. "Hmm~?" As he looked up slowely to see what was rustling around on top of his head, his eyes widened as he saw the head of a snake dangling below his hairline. Jiraiya's eyes twitched for awhile as the snake hissed and attempted to begin constricting Jiraiya's head.....then he finally snapped.

"AHH! SNAKE!" Jiraiya jumped up from the stump, running in circles as he flailed his left arm around while grasping the head of the snake with his right. Jiraiya continued this useless attempt for quite a while....let's say a minute..... before Jiraiya let out a sigh. Jiraiya's face suddenly became serious. With one slight tug of the arm, the snake was pulled off his head and tossed aside to his right. Bet this is no coincidence... Jiraiya crouched down to the ground, picked up his novel and pen, stood back up tucking the novel back into his jacket. Jiraiya looked into the direction of which the snake was thrown, and launched his pen back in the same angle.

"Come on out.....Orochimaru." Jiraiya's face stern as he waited for his appearance.

[Masked_Felix]

After that display, there was no doubt in his mind. This was Jiraiya, a former comrade and a fellow member of the Legendary Sannin. Upon hearing his name, Orochimaru stood, meeting his reptilian eyes with those of the perverted Sage in a stare down that lasted a few tense moments before the young Sannin broke the silence. While they were enemies in the past, and might be again, there were still questions that needed to be answered, and information took priority over hostility.

"Why and how are you here, you old toad? Your appearance in this world makes three of us Ninja that I've seen so far", Orochimaru said, not breaking eye contact. "In addition to us, there are Akatsuki here too, though I can't say how many. I've only seen the leader, and he didn't stay to chat."

[Eliwood21]

Jiraiya examined the now younger body of Orochimaru. This would be normal to Jiraiya since Orochimaru used forbidden techniques to make himself immortal, though why he is here....

"I could ask the same for you...for I have no idea how I got here. Itachi is one thing...but you." Jiraiya tucked his arms under each other while staring down at Orochimaru.

[JAIF]

"And to think we once called Kakuzu immortal..."

From the shadow of the trees, he stepped out, a shinobi, yet not quite as such. More accurately, the harbinger of a new era for the ninja world, the one whose eyes would shape the destiny of all. A man both of the former partners would be quite bothered to see here, even seeing as he had been discovered by one of them before. A man whose presence should be revered or feared.

Chester Pein.

"Why is it that Konoha shinobi find it so difficult to remain dead?" He strode forwards, calm and collected, his voice betraying no anger or aggression - not even annoyance.

However, it did seem slightly unlikely that he was just dropping by to check on a person he had ordered killed, and another he had tried to kill himself.


Niku Edit: Way to fukken raep canon, mayn. And I just got done talking to DS about when it's best not to reveal your character to characters of the same series. However, I do trust you, and I think you might know what you're doing, so I'll just sit back for now. I'm interested to see what you do here. D:

[Eliwood21]

[OOC: OH SH-- RUN FOR THE HILLS! CHESTER IS AMONG US! D: ]

Jiraiya's right eye shot open as Yahiko, among the ones known as Six Paths of Paein, appeared suddenly from the trees.

"....Y-Yahiko...." Jiraiya untucked his arms, placing them into a defensive position across his chest. "What is going on here? You...Orochimaru...and Itachi?" Jiraiya kept his eyes steady on each ninja, being cautious of any moves either one makes.

[Masked_Felix]

"Hmph. You think that even the Totsuka no Tsurugi at the hands of Itachi could kill me? I've merely appeared in this world as a child again", Niku Edit: OHSHITGT. ITACHI TURNED HIM INTO A CHILD AGAIN, THE SHARINGAN IS BURNIN' RED AGAIN, THE WORLD, AND EVERYTHIN' WITHIN!!! THE ULTIMATE BATTLE, BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, WHO GONNA WIN?!?! WHEN MADARA'S CLOCK DICTATES THE CONSEQUENCE WILL OUR VILLAN HAVE THA STRENGTH TO BE THA FIRST LINE OF OFFENSE?!?!?!?! Your wish is granted... Orochimaru retorted with a prideful sneer. He knew that he was in all likely hood here because of death, but giving ground didn't sound like the best option at the moment.

"What's your business with here, Pein", Orochimaru pressed, wishing that he had began training the snakes sooner. As it stood now, they would only serve as cannon fodder in what might escalate into a three way battle if cards weren't played right. "Have you come to come to reclaim your ring? Or is it that after hearing about the Uchiha brother's battle from that ridiculous head of vegetation, you decided to try and finish the job".


EDIT: OOC- Goddangit, Nikushimi. I knew, I KNEW something like this was going to happen. My out of character Orochimaru is even more of a mockery now.

EDIT EDIT: I decided to Narutoize those lyrics.

[JAIF]

The Rin'negan seemed to distort slightly as it drifted from Orochimaru to Jiraya, as if measuring them up.

"Yahiko, huh?" He addressed the perverted hermit. "What part of 'Yahiko is dead, and I am Pein' is so paeinfully hard to understand?"

He turned around so that he could face them both. "Either way, right now, you don't have anything to fear from me. There are more important issues to take care of than deal with the two of you."

"You mentioned Itachi was here." He told Jiraya. "That must mean you have seen him. Where is he?"

[Eliwood21]

[OOC: GOOD GOD NIKU! I'M LITERALLY LAUGHING MY ASS OFF AT THAT EDIT! XD ]

"Hmph....so kill me if I won't acknoweldge it [OOC: ~IRONY~]. Haven't seen him since our little fight." Jiraiya walked over to a nearby tree and leaned against it, his body facing towards Paein.

"Care to explain where this is place is that you sent me to?"

[Masked_Felix]

After realizing that this just might end without major incident, Orochimaru relaxed a little bit. Pein's words to Jiraiya were curious indeed, however. Apparently they had crossed paths recently? As the gears turned in his ever scheming mind, Orochimaru also noticed something of more interest, however.

"So, Uchiha Itachi is here as well, and from the sound of it, not under your orders. Has he finally turned on your master", he theorized. Deciding to press even further into the matter, Orochimaru continued, dropping a very dangerous name. "Is Uchiha Madara finally on the move?"