Another Nine-Tails?!

Deal Gone Wrong

(This takes place the following week)

Akiko joined Orochimaru and Kabuto as they went back to Tanzaku Village. "It would be most bothersome to be interrupted during our negotiations." The gold-eyed man told his assistant.

"What would you have me do?"

"That attendant of Tsunade's; it might not be a bad thing for you to dispose of her." Akiko looked at him as he spoke. "You seemed excited. Would you like to join him?" She nodded, a grin growing on her lips.

Kabuto pulled out a kunai before spotting on a branch. The redhead landed beside him, waiting for his next move. He didn't want to bring her with, but she insisted she'd be useful. Their master gave in. He stated he was interested in what she would do. The pair separated from their master, heading off to locate Shizune. Once they reached the village, the ash-haired boy let Akiko take the lead. She closed her eyes for a moment before suddenly dashing off. 'Looks like she found our target.' He hashed off after her.

She stopped on a roof, looking around a corner. "Over there." She pointed at a balcony that contained three people. The pair switched places so Kabuto could observe the situation. His eyes widened as he distinguished Jiraiya among the three, followed by Naruto and finally Shizune.

'I would never had guessed that Master Jiraiya himself would show up here. Now, this is really getting troublesome. Our best course of action is to withdraw for now and report to Lord Orochimaru. Even Naruto is here. Interesting.' He hid behind the wall, looking at Akiko. She, in turn, looked at him in curiousity. He debating telling her about Naruto, but he knew she would have to chose between him and them. He couldn't bring himself to do that to her. "Let's go. Master Jiraiya is here."

"What!?" She exclaimed quietly.

He grabbed her hand and hurried away before the got found out. As they got closer to the meeting place with Tsunade, he released her hand. He jumped out of a tree and landed on a roof with a soft thud. The girl landed beside him, taking note of his distressed look. 'Kabuto, if you want to stop me, your only chance is to kill Sasuke now. There's no way you can kill me. Even if you are strong, you're no stronger than Kakashi.' His master's words rang in his head as he thought about his next move. 'No stronger than Kakashi.' He repeated to himself before his eyes widened. He pushed the thought away quickly and focused on the task at hand. "Aki, can you check on him?"

She nodded, her eyes narrowing. She felt for her master's chakra signature, soon finding it. She closed her eyes to picture him. Tsunade stood across from him and they seemed to be talking. She couldn't hear what they were discussing and she didn't care. Green chakra ignited between Tsunade's hands and she moved it to Orochimaru's outstretched arms. However, the chakra leaked a negative intent. She was intending to kill him. "Stop her!" She shouted as her eyes snapped open.

Kabuto threw a kunai between the two, disrupting their transaction. The Sannin jumped away from one another. Tsunade looked up, glaring at the young male. He hopped down and landed a couple of feet behind his master, Akiko following suit. "What is the meaning of this? Coming here and betraying me, Tsunade!!" Orochimaru growled. "What led you to such a decision, Princess? To try and kill me?" If looks could kill, her old comrade would leave him as nothing but a pile of ash. He let out a sigh before speaking once more. "Even so, I trust you both wholeheartedly. My dear Akiko, it seems you were right."

"Her chakra was full of ill intent." The redhead informed him.

"Tsunade, I really intent to bring them back to life. And, I even promised not to destory the Leaf, but." He trailed off.

The woman's look faltered before turning pained. She smiled sadly, a chuckle leaving her. "Orochimaru, you not attacking the village? At the very least, I was aware that was a lie. I knew it, and yet, just once more... I wanted to see them one last time. I wanted to touch them one more time. Just one more time, I wanted to see their smiles. But the possibility that I could truly see Dan and Nawaki again. Yes. The moment I felt it, I realized," she looked down, her tears falling onto her breasts. "I was a hopeless fool. Just remembering their faces. It made me so blind. I loved them. I truly loved them! I wanted to see them and hold them tight! But I can't. That kid reminded me of their dream, though I tried to forget it. They both staked their lives on their dream. That those dreams would come true was my wish. 'Everything decays eventually', you said that. But this one feeling never decays." When she finally lifted her head, she was crying with a broken smile on her lips.

"Then negotiations have failed. Too bad. Now I'll just have to persuade you by force." Orochimaru watched as she rubbed the tears off her face. She closed her eyes for a moment. When she reopened them, her glare was back. She jumped up with her leg raised, ready to attack the opposing group. They jumped out of the way as she crashed onto the ground, leaving a crater in the group as a result.

"Here we go. Kabuto." The boy looked back, making sure Akiko made it. She stared wide-eyes at the crater Tsunade had made. Her attack had also managed to destory some of the buildings surrounding the path.

"I told you, didn't I? Good medicine had to be more than just bitter."

Come on, Orochimaru!!" Yeah, she was pissed.

The man chuckled. "Come to think of it, we haven't fought before, have we?" The woman discarded her green vest.

"Indeed."

"You're one to talk. I'm the one that has to fight her."

Akiko's head snapped towards him. "I'm helping."

"No, you aren't." He gave her a harsh look. She responded with a growl, but no words.

"You worthless scum. I'll kill you right here, right now!!" Tsunade landed a hit to the foundation of the building they were on. They jumped up as it crumbled.

"One blow, and you're finished." Orochimaru warned.

"I can see that." They landed on the ground. "It's a bit tight here for a fight."

"Thinking of moving?"

"It would be best."

"Innocent bystander could get hurt if we don't." Akiko stated as she felt people leaving the area. She also felt three people heading their way. "Someone's heading this way though."

This got Kabuto's attention. "We saw someone with Tsunade's companion we should be wary of."

"Who?"

"One of the Sannin like you and Tsunade." Orochimaru knew who he was talking about in an instant. A smirk appeared. They left the scene.

Tsunade growled to herself, hesitating for a moment. Something about the redhead reminded her of the boy with Jiraiya. She found herself asking why? Surely, she wasn't with them willingly, right?