Exploring the unknown...

- No investigation? -asked Orochimaru, as they were leaving the village; running after a ninja dog.

-That’s none of our duties. They say, the sooner we find the thieves, the better. –said the blonde.

-This is ridiculous! Once again, Tsunade! What do we know?

- They are from Jómae Village ( Lock village ), one of them is a tall man, wearing glasses. That’s all. And we got this piece of cloth from a uniform, probably.

-Probably... –he repeated- Well, that raises a number of questions, dear! Firstly; how could they break in, and on top of that, how could they get so far already. Secondly, why haven’t they started chasing after them?!!

-They told us to...

-And you even had time to chit-chat, letting them get away?!!

-Saying the one who had time to make out while...- she had been rendered speechless by Jiraiya’s loud laugh.

-What is so funny?!!- asked Oro.

-Ohh, nothing. Nothing.

-You don’t take me seriously, do you?!!- he hissed.

-A-also... it’s not our fault that they ran away. – said Tsunade- We were only told afterwards...

-Excuse me...- he started quietly- What the bloody hell is this?!!- the snake summoner shouted. Then he suddenly stopped and took a deep breath.- Seriously.  

-What is it?- asked Tsunade, starting at his friend who was seemingly about to go mad. Jiraiya called the dog back.

- It doesn’t seem alright to me. This whole case.

- Ok, but we can’t just stop here while they...

- I think they got far away already.- he interrupted her.- Also, what if it was the guards, who let them in? Gave them time to get away, and that’s why we were only informed afterwards. And in that case, we can’t really rely on the information given. Can we?

Oro sat down on a stump, followed by Jiraiya’s suspicious look.

- Gravel.- he said, taking his right shoe off.

-You think the whole thing is set up...? –asked the kunoichi.

-But we got this dog!- tried Jiraiya.

- Then maybe the dog and the cloth too...- she whispered, thinking out loud.

-Or maybe not.-sighed Oro, putting on his shoe –We are not getting paid enough for this.

Jiraiya tried to catch up.

-So... are we going to follow the doggy?

-For now, yes. –he said, standing up.

-Well, it’s not their... so the trick is not in the dog, I think. –Exclaimed Jiraiya.

-Genius.- said Orochimaru, with a mocking smile that the man couldn’t see.

-Shall we go? –asked Tsunade.

The short male nodded.

-The dog has stopped!- Jiraiya said and looked around. Something didn’t seem alright.

There was a rustle among the trees to his right just then, and few seconds later, he was surrounded by a thick fog... of toxic gas.

- Watch out, it’s a...

-TRAP!- they shouted together.

-At least some action. Shinobi life might be monotone, but never boring.- Orochimaru coughed.- Let’s get done with it!

“Is it really necessary for him to speak in a situation like this?”- flashed through Jiraiya’s mind, as he covered his mouth with his sleeve.

He started running forth, through the gas, followed by a shower of kunais.

Orochimaru has made a couple of shadow clones of him, released his snakes and tried to spot where the kunais were coming from, while Tsunade...

Where is Tsunade?

They couldn’t see the sky anymore. To be exact, they were unable to see anything.

Orochimaru started to feel dizzy. He was about to lose his orientation.

-Ji... -raiya?- “where’s Jiraiya?”- his eyes shut, and slowly opened again.

-Damn it, a snake!- percolated through the cloud.

“Got you!”- the snake summoner chuckled, and started moving towards the sound.

 Halfway he bumped into the barely conscious Jiraiya. His heart was thumping hard and fast, as he picked up the man and started running out of the smoke, ignoring his prey.

He has never been this worried before. Not since he has lost his parents. As if blood had just frozen in his veins. He was afraid of the thought that his love might be dead. And he was relieved when he heard him cough.

Soon after, they both were out of the cloud.

He laid Jiraiya in the soft grass, leant over him and placed a soft kiss on his forehead;

-Idiot.- he said, with loving tone. He looked at his man one more time and stood up.

-Oro?- the man just realized the situation and he was glad that they were out of there.- where are you going?- he asked, his normally strong voice now hardly audible.

-They are hiding in the mist so I’m coming for them.- he said, slowly walking forth with uncertain steps. He was now furious. –I only have to take out one and get a gas mask.- he mumbled, and took a deep breath, ready to enter.

Then he suddenly saw the blonde on top of a tree. She was fighting someone, who was holding a machine. A machine, that emitted gas.

The snake summoner smirked. He climbed up a tree- though he once almost fell- and tried to approach them unseen.