Orochimaru finished up the task he had been asked, he did it lazily as he didn't care what happened to Danzo if he handed in a bad report. It was no longer his problem what the man faced. Orochimaru mindlessly looked around the room wondering what exactly he would do to pass the time. He saw out the corner of his eye a spiral start taking shape. A smile spread across his face and he turned to face it.

"Madara, the living legend. You have returned have you?" Orochimaru asked.

"The same greeting to you. Orochimaru." Madara said now fully in the room.

"What now, Uchiha?" Orochimaru asked, he looked into the red depths of the single eye enchanted by its power.

"Now we leave." Madara said.

"How do we go about it?" Orochimaru asked, the man made it sound simple.

"Well I know the type of person you are Orochimaru. What is it you wish to do before you go, or more fittingly put. Who is it you wish to kill?" Madara said, a dark glint flashed in the Sannins eyes.

"You will make a good ally Uchiha Madara." Orochimaru said, the sinister message of those words were spoken in a calm and collected voice. Something that had always intrigued the Uchiha. How the snake could say such forbidden things in the most natural voice. He would state murder in the same tone he would state the weather.

"As will you I hope Sannin."

Jiraiya came to the entrance of the village, he didn't waste time to catch his breath but made his way directly to his teacher. He entered to see the office empty, he cursed his luck and spun around swiftly. Before barrelling off again he stopped before colliding into his confused looking teacher who hovered in the door frame.

"Jiraiya… what is the rush?" The Hokage asked, "I am glad to see you returned… I heard there was trouble with you and Orochimaru?"

"With me and Oro? No, Danzo probably changed the story for his benefit." Jiraiya said, his words coming out in a blur of speed, "I need you to take Orochimaru out of Danzo's care. Danzo is acting in ways which he is not allowed to by law, criminal or no criminal."

"Danzo told me nothing he did was out of line. He merely was going to act against Orochimaru when his jutsu returned, and you stopped him. Is that true" Sarutobi asked.

"Yes and no, the ANBU long story short are acting in ways they shouldn't. Orochimaru ran away and when he got back I don't know what Danzo wanted to do but he ended up triggering some chakara some how. It was just an act of defence, besides that they were going to kill him so I stepped in. He had no chakara, he was harmless when they tried to kill him. Besides that, those seals Danzo did are broken and if not redone properly Orochimaru will die, we need to get him back now-"

"Jiraiya. He attacked the ANBU and Danzo. You are not to be his watch any longer. However what is it you were saying about a broken seal?" Sarutobi asked.

"we can talk about the watch thing when Orochimaru comes home, but for now… Sensei you have to believe me. We need to go fetch him he doesn't have long before those seals kill him." Jiraiya said.

"Explain." The Hokage said not gathering exactly what he needed from the sentences presented. Jiraiya calmed himself down and begun over, explaining most of their journey, leaving out all the irrelevant parts.

"Okay… I will inform Danzo to redo the seals." The Hokage said, Jiraiya looked at him angrily.

"No, not with out us being there Sensei. He'll kill him." Jiraiya said.

"He is a criminal Jiraiya… there is nothing we can do." Sarutobi said, "What happens, happens. At this point in time all we can do is hope he does not act out again. Danzo does not wish to kill him Jiraiya. If Orochimaru does not turn on him again he will be fine."

"You don't understand Sensei please-" Jiraiya said.

"That is final." Sarutobi said, Jiraiya gave him a lost look. Anger was the next thing to hit his black eyes and he shook his head and backed away.

"It's not your choice." Jiraiya said, "Danzo was out of line. Either way as of now we are will listen to Sensei. He won't let anything happen." Jiraiya said.

"How many times I haven't heard those words Jiraiya, how many times those words have fallen short." Orochimaru said, his voice was small, soft and unsure. He averted his eyes, stared at the floor his hair falling across his face. Jiraiya sighed and walked up to him tried to put his hand on his shoulder.

"Orochimaru-" Jiraiya's hand was smacked away, cold eyes glared at him.

"Don't touch me, don't act like you are doing this for me. Don't act like you are doing what is right. Admit you are wrong. God knows no one in your village does." Orochimaru snapped.

Orochimaru had been right Jiraiya said to himself. His teacher would not help him, his teacher would not save him. It appeared that in the same sentence their teacher told the pale boy that he was his student and that nothing he did would change that, their teacher said he was going to die and he would not change that either.

"Jiraiya I know you care a great deal about this, as do I. The village is innocent, he is not. We can not sacrifice their safety for his." Sarutobi said the devastation and anger clear on Jiraiya's face.

"Do you know where they are?" Jiraiya said, "I understand sensei… I'll listen to what you are saying but can I at least send the message to Danzo. I have a few extra requests and information I'd like to share with him." Jiraiya said.

"What ever they are tell the scribe. He will write it down and his eagle will send it." His teacher said, Jiraiya nodded. He then went down the halls to the Jounin waiting for his orders. Jiraiya gave a brief message, the Jounin failed to see its importance. It had no importance Jiraiya thought. However this was not about a message, the message would never matter. As the bird took to the skies Jiraiya followed suit. The eagle knew where to go. It was simple, follow the eagle to the snake. Once he was there he could set him free, and perhaps… just perhaps… the snake might finally know what he wanted to say.

Blood was covering every part of the dwelling, the sound of snakes hissing and slipping around the floor echoed the halls. Orochimaru stood looking down at the bloodied form of the man who had dared assault him. Giara stumbled backwards, slipping on his own blood as he did so.

"Wait!" He said panicked, "Don't!"

"Know your place Giara." Orochimaru hissed, he approached the male his sword drawn, snakes creeping down his arm. The Sannin had not felt so alive in weeks. He could not believe how much he needed his jutsu. He would learn all of them, he decided. He would attain every last one, he would be immortal and invincible. He would never be a prisoner again, he would be constantly doing as he pleased with no chains, no ties.

"Please!" Giara cried, his last words were cut short, a gurgled scream was heard and silenced as the sound of a blade running through flesh was sounded. Blood flooded the immediate area and Orochimaru wiped his blade clean on the man's shirt. Giara's went eyes hollow and feeling less.

Mercy shot.

Orochimaru then glided away from the mess and towards the Uchiha who lazily spun a kunai on one finger.

"All done?" He asked.

"I believe I am yes." Orochimaru said with a sly smile.

"Then we should leave." Madara said, "We have wasted enough time here."

"Of course, where ever you wish to go I shall follow. I am in your debt Uchiha." Orochimaru said.

But once I have paid you back dear Madara, I will have to take my leave. I am not a follower.

"Good, this way." Madara said, his black cloak bellowing violently in the wind, the sound of an eagle was heard in the skies and Orochimaru looked up. The bird was in the distance getting closer and closer to the land. Orochimaru looked at the bird, a Konoha headband loosely hanging around its neck. A messenger of the fire nation… perhaps he too should leave a message for Danzo. Orochimaru took a headband off one of the dead ninja who lay limp on the floor. He then took out a kunai and slit a clean line across its symbol. A clear sign of a rogue, a clear sign of betrayal. He swiftly tied it around a sword that had been lodged into one mans chest. The headband symbolising betrayal coupled with the defeat of all his men. Danzo would get the point the snake was making.

Till next time, traitor.

Everything set in place Orochimaru made it to Madara's side. Orochimaru looked into the distance one last time before the two rogues disappeared into smoke their traces vanishing with them.

Jiraiya ran with the young eagle, it looked at him confused not used to being followed and not sure of why the ninja was bothering. Jiraiya was once again running on adrenalin, he couldn't stop, the bird would be out of sight. To his luck the bird perched on a tree every few hours and took a break of its own. The bird cried out a signal of being close to its target. Jiraiya smiled.

He would save Orochimaru, he would redeem himself. His teacher was wrong, the village was wrong. The snake could change, he would. All he needed was a chance, one last chance and he would be home again. Jiraiya pulled up the eagle flying in a circle confused at the lack of ninja's it could deliver the message to. Blood stained the snow, the walls and the door of the dark looking dwelling. Jiraiya walked almost unresponsively, not sure he believed the sight. Had they been attacked? Was Orochimaru alive still.

Jiraiya walked to the door but was stopped when something caught his eye. A headband, a headband with a scratch down the leaf. Jiraiya laughed, not because he was happy, or found the scene funny. He laughed with out soul, he laughed in avoidance of any other emotion he might feel. It was a soft echoless laugh that lasted for a fleeting moment. Then he fell silent.

"Look at that… just out of time." Jiraiya said, he turned back, the eagle perched on a tree watching the ninja intently. He took one step closer to home.

One last look, he would have loved to have told Orochimaru everything. He would have loved to have brought him home, he would have loved him. Would have.

Orochimaru sat on a high ledge, finally getting some time alone after being with his new ally for the journey past. He didn't feel the cold through the black cloak he had been given. Playing around with his long black strands he stared at the ice below. He stared at the rough waters. They were not his enemy anymore. Orochimaru closed his eyes, he couldn't help the image of his old friend coming to him. He couldn't help hearing the words echo in his head. The words Jiraiya loved so much "I'll save you." Since child hood Jiraiya had attempted to uphold that promise.

"You broke you promise again Jiraiya…" Orochimaru said, he averted his eyes from his faded icy reflection, "Then again so did I…"

He shook off the thought of Jiraiya all in all. He couldn't bring back what was and he didn't want to. As of now he was free, he was free and not with out passion or cause. He would kill the Leaf, he would kill his teacher and he would most certainly become immortal. He no longer needed anyone else, but for the time being he would stay with the new organisation… the Akatsuki more formally known. A smile spread across his features and he looked up at the light snow falling.

What a fake smile you wear so well…

Orochimaru got up, chasing the voice that ridiculed him. One last glance at the direction of Konoha, he spotted the eagle in the distance. Most likely bringing home nothing but their men's blood.

"Farewell friend."

Final chapter, hope you enjoyed it! Not the happiest ending... sorry for those who were routing for a happily ever after but I wanted it to fit more or less into the original plot. Thanks to those who reviewed and followed! A huge thanks to VampireDoll666 who was a constant help and support!~ Hourglass8