"Yes." He continues while shooting me a disapproving look for interrupting him. "Her practical skills are average, but her mind is sharp. For both of you to realize that the easiest way to beat Gaara was to poison his family and force him to surrender is unexpected."
...
I offer up another shrug. "It does make the most sense. There were two ways to win, knock out or surrender. We both knew that we couldn't knock him out, so we found the easiest way to make him surrender. Threaten his family. I'm more interested in how she poisoned them. I had a few spiders on standby to do the deed for me, but I have no idea how she managed to get them."
"That doesn't explain why you played the hero." Sasuke interjects. "Why did you think that was a good idea? Hell she used our plan! You shouldn't have cared."
"Simple really, it made us look better." I start to explain. I'm sure Orochimaru has already figured this all out, but he's still riveted to me. "I went to Gaara's aid. In other words, Oto went to Suna's aid. That alone speaks volumes but I also went out of my way to make sure everyone knew that the safety of his family was more important to me than advancing in the Tournament. I showed everyone present that even Otogakure has human shinobi, that we have compassionate shinobi. It helped to break us out of the mold of crazy abnormal soldiers. Don't get me wrong, we still are but now the public views us as less weird."
"Is that what you were going for?" Orochimaru says.
"Uh... yeah?" I hesitantly say. "Wasn't that your goal? You did give me permission."
"Oh that! I just wanted to see what you would do and to spice things up a little." Orochimaru lovingly smiles at me. "What a good child, always thinking of how he can help his father."
"Of course." I can't wait to kill you. I will feel so much better. Only two and a half years and you're dead.
"So, do you both have a plan for Leiko tomorrow?" Orochimaru asks.
"Not yet." Sasuke says. "Again, I thought for sure she would lose. The idea that she could win never crossed my mind."
"Sorta." I chime in. Both of them look to me to explain. "Well, I was thinking about letting her throw everything she has at me, then watching her get more and more desperate as each and every attempt fails, then casually dealing a one hit knock out. Or better yet, I could let some spiders out to play."
"What if she comes after me first?" Sasuke asks.
"Eh, I'll jump in and tell you to wait or something. Say that I want to beat her one on one for all the shit she's caused me."
"Acceptable!" Orochimaru claps his hands together. "Seeing her spirit break will be interesting! What of your battle? Surely the two of you will fight it out?"
Sasuke and I look at each other.
"I don't really want to." Sasuke says.
"Me either." I hastily agree.
Orochimaru didn't want to hear that. The room got colder and the lights seem dimmer, but his eyes are shinning, gleaming in the night like a snake ready to strike. He says one word, "Why?"
"It wouldn't feel right." Sasuke starts to explain. "The two of us know exactly what the other is capable of, but neither of us can use our full skills. We're limited while here, it would be like having two prize racehorses see who is the fastest walker."
"Yeah, if we were to fight we both would want to use our full power. Hell I'm okay with having a fight back at Oto between the two of us if it means that much to you. It'd be a better show and everything."
"Hmm. Perhaps." Orochimaru says. "Then if you are not going to fight, who will win?"
"Sasuke will." I say. "The Kusakage said he'd talk to you about me getting promoted already. Plus I pretty much have it in the bag. But Sasuke hasn't really showed any skills off, so we might stage a fight of sorts with him as the victor. Or I'll just surrender to him while saying something like 'I know there's no way I can beat you.'"
"About time you admit that." Sasuke arrogantly says with his trademark Uchiha tone.
"Please, we both know that this is a one time thing. It's all an act."
Knock Knock
"How unexpected." Orochimaru rises up from his chair. "It appears I have a visitor. Masks on."
Both Sasuke and I don our masks.
Orochimaru boldly opens the door to reveal a Kusa shinobi. They're decked out in all black garb, everything about them is dull. Their hair is a muted brown, their weapons are hidden in non reflective sheaths, and they have on a blank white mask. It's one of Kusa's ANBU.
The ANBU promptly kneels to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru-sama, I come bearing a request of the Kusakage. Could I have an hour of your time?"
"Interesting." Orochimaru eyes the kneeling nin in open hostility. "Why should I?"
"It may gain you access to an unsealed Byakugan." Fuck me.
Orochimaru's hostility vanishes without a trace. "Come in, come in! It would be unbecoming of me to not at least listen to a messenger of another Kage!"
The ANBU rises and walks into the room without making a sound. Whoever this is is good at stealth.
"Are you okay with them being here?" The ANBU asks while nodding towards Sasuke and I.
"Of course I am, all of my shinobi would never betray me or my interests." Orochimaru sits back down in his chair. "Now, you mentioned a Byakugan?"
"Yes." The ANBU starts talking. "You are aware that Hinata Hyuuga is the heiress of the Hyuuga clan?" Orochimaru nods. "That means that her Byakugan is not sealed, since she is of the Main Branch. What my Kage is proposing is a joint operation between our two villages. Regrettably our first attempt to acquire the Byakugan didn't work-"
"Of course it didn't." Orochimaru cuts off the ANBU. "Did you honestly expect Tsunade of all people to not know what was in those syringes?"
"Since our first attempt failed, we cannot be seen trying again." The ANBU takes a breath to steady himself. "With your permission, we would like to masquerade as Oto shinobi and openly engage the Konoha shinobi on their way back and kidnap the Hyuuga."
"...There's more isn't there?" Orochimaru asks.
"Yes. Unfortunately no one in Kusa can stand alone against the Hokage. We have a few teams that might be able to stall her for long enough, but any moves they used could be linked back to us since they are either bloodlines or kinjutsu known only to Kusa."
"But I can." Orochimaru says what the ANBU is implying. "You're asking me to fight Tsunade while you and yours fight the rest."
"Yes. That is the plan in its simplest form."
"Hmm..." Orochimaru thinks things over for a few moment. They're some of the scariest moments of my life. What will he say? Will he make Sasuke and I part of the plan? Does he want me to pluck out Hinata's eyes to assure that he gets one? "I will have to refuse."
Oh thank the sweet merciful Kami. Finally something went my way!
"May I ask why, Orochimaru-sama?" The ANBU is playing a dangerous game.
"Of course, I don't like sharing. If I want the Byakugan I will have a complete set, not just one. Besides, as interesting as it would be to study, facing off against Tsunade and the rest of her jonin is not something I wish to do. Since you are obviously ignorant, one of the jonin here is Kakashi Hatake. One of the few considered to be the Fifth Hokage before Tsunade stepped up. That means that there are two Kage level opponents. It is true that he is not as skilled as Tsunade, but that does not mean that he's any less dangerous. To be considered as a possible Kage -especially in one of the Big Five Villages- speaks volumes about his skill."
"...We were unaware of that fact. Thank you for your time." The ANBU rises and moves towards the door.
"Oh and ANBU?" Orochimaru calls after the retreating shinobi. "If I even hear a rumor that Oto shinobi attacked anyone while leaving Kusa I will burn your village to the ground."
"I will pass it along to my superiors."
"See that you do." Orochimaru says as the ANBU leaves. Once the door fully closes Orochimaru turns back to Sasuke and I. "Now that was eventful!"
"Orochimaru-sama," I carefully say. This is a delicate situation, but I need this question answered for the sake of my mental health. Or what is left of it. "Do you have any interest in the Byakugan at all?"
"Interest? Yes, but I simply don't have the time to study it right now." He glares at his hands. "I am too busy trying to harness natural chakra to hopefully restore my hands. It would be nice to have a pair or two, but it isn't a priority."
Thank Kami. That makes my life so much easier.
"Now why don't you two move on with your day?" Orochimaru says. "Get some food, see the sights, take a look at my journal. The rest of the day is yours, there is no need to come back here again."
"Well... alright then." Sasuke and I rise up and make our way out of the hotel.
...
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