The four of them found a fairly flat rock by the edge of the woods. Jiraiya fished his flask out of a scroll and poured drinks for himself and the two women.
Shizune huddled beside them with Tonton in her arms, sneaking glances at Lin Zi every now and then.
Tsunade took a swig. At last, her emotions had settled completely. She wiped her mouth and glanced sideways at Lin Zi, who sat across from her.
"Hey, I don't fully approve of you, but... what's the otherworldly Orochimaru's world like?"
Lin Zi used a little white snake to nudge a branch around in the campfire. He didn't even look up when he replied.
"There are things I can't tell you. I'm afraid saying them might wreck your world. But... I can tell you something fun."
Tsunade blinked. She stared at him for a couple of seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing. "The way you are right now, you actually remind me a little of Jiraiya."
"Yeah?"
Lin Zi lifted his snake-like eyes, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Jiraiya was beside them, tipping his head back to drink. He nearly choked when he heard that, then coughed as he leaned over.
"Tsunade, you don't know the half of it!"
He thumped his chest smugly, liquor trickling down his chin.
"In their world, I, Lord Jiraiya, was a genius from childhood! A super genius! The kind of guy who knew countless jutsu by the time he was twelve."
Lin Zi rolled his eyes. The white snake in his hand smacked the back of Jiraiya's hand.
"Sure. I couldn't believe this world's you was so shameless, either. You're a grown man and you're still peeping on women in the bathhouse."
"Jiraiya!"
Tsunade's expression clearly showed her anger. She punched him on the head, and a comically large bump immediately rose on his scalp.
"Ah... Ow, ow, ow!"
"That was strategic reconnaissance! Strategic!" Jiraiya lunged at Lin Zi in a fit of rage. "Besides, I did find a spy, didn't I?"
The campfire crackled, and the scent of liquor drifted on the night breeze.
The four of them, who had been at each other's throats moments ago, had somehow ended up together, just like those three young ninja who had returned from a mission many years ago.
"So, Orochimaru, what did you mean when you said that Cloud Village shinobi had their eyes on me?"
Tsunade asked.
"That's thanks to Jiraiya. We ran into a few spies on our way to find you. They said they were sending Killer B to capture you in the next few days."
"Capture me? Why?"
"They got the information from somewhere that the Fourth Hokage was badly wounded and Konoha was weakened. They planned to take you back in chains and use the opportunity to invade."
"So you two came looking for me?"
"No," Lin Zi said, fixing his gaze on Tsunade. "I came to find you because someone asked me to. A blond kid asked me to come get you and have you save someone."
"Huh? A blond kid?"
Tsunade sounded puzzled.
[Beep! Detected a sharp emotional fluctuation in the world-core supporting character Tsunade.] [Orochimaru (Spirit Snake Sage) role-play progress increased by 7%. Current compatibility: 40%.]
"Yeah. I can't say anything else."
Firelight flickered across Lin Zi's pale, paper-white face, casting alternating shadows and highlights. He sat cross-legged, his golden slit pupils half-lidded, but his voice held an unexpected warmth.
Tsunade tipped back the last of her drink, then smashed the flask onto the ground and abruptly stood up.
She dusted off her backside and looked down at the campfire.
"So... I have to go with you, then?"
"Eh? We're leaving right now?" Jiraiya leaned toward her, eyes wide. "Isn't that a little too soon? At least let me sleep in again!"
"Not soon at all!" Shizune, clutching Tonton, finally couldn't hold back her complaint.
"Lady Tsunade has nearly spent all our money here. If we stay any longer, we'll have to borrow the fare just to get home..."
"Shizune!"
Tsunade pulled Shizune close and made a fist, vigorously ruffling the girl's hair until it looked like a bird's nest.
"You talk too much!"
Watching the commotion, Lin Zi lightly tapped his knee with his fingertips, then suddenly spoke. "I suggest... we wait here and ambush them."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Wait for those Cloud Village people to come to us?"
"More or less."
Lin Zi sighed, his snake-like eyes turned toward Tanzaku Town.
"That'll stop them from getting any more funny ideas. No matter where you go in the Shinobi World, it's always the same. You take one step back, and they think you're afraid."
Jiraiya fell silent for a moment, then grinned and spread his arms, pulling Lin Zi and Tsunade into a hug at the same time. He rubbed his head against them, putting on a terribly fake show of emotion.
"Uuuwaaah... Look on the bright side! At least the three of us are together again! The legendary Sannin! That title wasn't handed to us by anyone!"
Jiraiya's grip made Tsunade's shoulders ache, and a vein throbbed at her temple.
"Jiraiya..."
"Hm?"
"You idiot!"
Bam!
A heavy punch struck the top of Jiraiya's head, driving his whole body into a pile of grass. Only his legs stuck out, twitching.
After discussing it, the four of them decided to head back to the shabby inn on the outskirts of Tanzaku Town and make do for the night. They would rest up and figure out how to lure those Cloud Village rats out tomorrow.
Early the next morning, just as the sky began to lighten.
Yawning, Jiraiya pushed open the inn's front door. Before he could step outside, he froze on the threshold.
The street was frighteningly empty.
Tanzaku Town, usually bustling and noisy, now seemed like a dead city. Every shop was shuttered, and even the cracks between the boards seemed to exude a deathly silence.
"...Something's wrong." Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, one hand already reaching for the scroll at his waist.
Lin Zi stepped out from behind him, morning dew still clinging to his black ponytail.
He stood on the steps, his golden slit pupils contracting slightly. His forked tongue quivered in the air.
"Six on the rooftops, four in the alley, and two crouched behind the well to the left."
His voice was as calm as if he were reading out a menu.
"They're all using Lightning Release Chakra. They're trying pretty hard to keep it suppressed."
Jiraiya gave a wry smile. "Well, looks like we've been surrounded."
Tsunade stepped out of the room, the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead suddenly glowing.
She raised a hand and brushed it across the mark. Her Strength of a Hundred Seal: Release activated, and chakra surged from her body like steam bursting out from under a pot lid, making the door rattle.
"Perfect." She clenched her fist, her knuckles cracking. "Saves me the trouble of hunting them down one by one."
Lin Zi pulled the Kusanagi Sword from his mouth. His pale fingertips brushed the blade's edge, a bloodthirsty excitement flashing in his snake-like eyes.
RUMBLE!!!
A blinding bolt of lightning crashed down from the sky, striking the street in front of them. The flagstones shattered, and charred rubble scattered all over the four of them.
Through the swirling dust, a figure appeared in the street ahead.
He was a dark-skinned man wearing a Cloud Village Forehead Protector, with seven short swords strapped to his back. He stood opposite the three of them, a little booklet in one hand, humming a strange rap under his breath.
"Yo, yo~ The Konoha Sannin are all here~ Too bad Lady Tsunade's coming back to the Cloud Village with me~"
Killer B raised his head, showing a mouthful of white teeth. His fingers lightly rested on the hilt of the first sword on his back.
"You really dare to come here?"
Lin Zi tilted his head. His golden slit pupils swept over Killer B twice, as if sizing up some rare curiosity.
"You see the three of us and attack instead of running?"
"The Cloud Village's Eight-Tails Jinchuriki has more guts than I expected."
Before you continue