now is the winter of our discontent (Pt.7)

[cywscross]

Fandom: Naruto

Summary: “I'm home, Maru-ji!  Anko-nee!”

 

A few more months fly by.  At two-thirty on a Tuesday afternoon, Anko is outside working with her Snake summons, Orochimaru has just returned from another mission and is enjoying a cup of tea, and Naruto is still at school.

 

(Through some miracle granted by the heavens, Sensei still hasn't found out about their little household of three.  Most days, Orochimaru tries not to think about what will happen once the old man does.)

 

“Yo, Sensei,” Anko meanders into the sitting room, Kougyoku draped sleepily over her shoulders.  The dahlia-coloured snake is Anko’s favourite, and vice versa.  “Is it possible for you to request a mission?  You know, for two people.”

 

Orochimaru gave up on teaching her subtlety a long time ago.  “A Sannin needs no reinforcements,” He says mildly, ignoring the face she makes at him.  “Sarutobi-sensei won’t agree, Anko.  You know that.  Besides, he only gives me S-ranks and the occasional high-level A-rank.  You're not ready for the majority of those yet.”

 

“I’ll be with you,” Anko points out, throwing herself into a seat in the most unladylike manner possible, but then, Orochimaru’s used to it because he grew up with Tsunade, who only ever had giggling moments of demureness whenever Dan was particularly sickening in his romancing ways.  “It’s not fair.  I'm your apprentice now; what kind of apprentice doesn't go on missions with their master?”

 

“The kind that has a master who is considered a bad influence on them,” Orochimaru returns dryly without missing a beat.  “You know he doesn't approve.”

 

Anko snorts with contempt.  Orochimaru really shouldn't feel so vindictively pleased that his student’s estimation of the Sandaime is plummeting like a rock with each passing day.  But he is.  A small part of him.  The part that’s still a little surprised at times to have not just one but two people taking his side against the world.

 

Still, he does attempt to remain unbiased whenever the relationship between his two charges and Konoha is brought up, especially where Naruto is concerned.  Anko is already an adult in every sense of the word, seventeen and a Tokubetsu Jounin as of five months ago, and she can make up her own mind.  She’ll be a full-fledged Jounin within another two years at most if Orochimaru has anything to say about it.

 

However, Naruto is still an impressionable child, and while the very worst part of Orochimaru – the part built on every piece of resentment and acrimony he’s ever felt, and even a few slivers of hatred – would like nothing more than to turn the boy – Konoha’s ‘prized’ Jinchuuriki, the village’s hero’s own son – against every single man and woman who has ever so much as looked at Orochimaru wrong, all the people who have mistrusted him and scorned him even before his mind began its downward spiral, that’s not what’s good for Naruto, and so, Orochimaru doesn't.

 

“This village is filled with morons,” Anko grouses, absently rubbing a hand over Kougyoku’s diamond-patterned head.  “Even my friends... Well,” She amends.  “Genma’s alright.  He didn't look all that surprised when I told him that you’d finally taken me on again.  Kurenai still tries to ‘warn’ me about you from time to time, and everyone else just sort of avoids the subject.”  She eyes Orochimaru speculatively.  “Genma asks about you sometimes, you know.  He’s the only one who asks how my training with you is going, and then he asks how you're doing.  Did you used to go on missions with him a lot or something?”

 

Orochimaru remembers Shiranui Genma.  “He was part of the Yondaime’s guard platoon so I’ve worked with him before.  He was... the most easygoing one out of the three.  Namiashi was unsettled around me, though he tried to hide it, and the other... I actually can’t recall what he looks like, only that he tended to disappear when I was around.  I always wondered why Minato chose him as a bodyguard; the boy was very young too, and nothing special.  He could perform a joint Hiraishin with the other two however, so perhaps that was it.”  Orochimaru shrugs, taking a sip of his tea.  “But Shiranui was the only one who didn't get on my nerves.”

 

Anko smirks.  “A ringing endorsement coming from you.”

 

It probably is.  From an objective point of view, Orochimaru doesn't like people in general, he barely tolerates them, but from what he can recall, Shiranui had a level head in a crisis, took most things in stride as they came, and didn't treat Orochimaru with any less respect than he did Jiraiya, but he also wasn't one to go out of his way to ingratiate himself to anyone.  He was... tolerable, and may still be if he isn’t actually just reporting everything back to Sarutobi-sensei whenever he makes small talk with Anko.

 

The loud bang of the front door hitting the wall interrupts their conversation, and only seconds later, Naruto comes bounding into the room with his orange backpack and windswept hair.

 

“I'm home, Maru-ji!  Anko-nee!”

 

Orochimaru nods a greeting, all but resigned to the butchering of his name.  He’s gone from ‘Maru-san’ to ‘Maru-ji’, and Anko’s become ‘Anko-nee’.  The boy is certainly turning out to be an affectionate one.

 

(“At least you're just ‘Uncle’,” Anko points out with a wicked grin right after Naruto slaps him with that new honorific, if it can even be called that.  “Be glad he doesn't call you ‘Gramps’!”

 

Orochimaru makes her run around Konoha twenty times for that remark.)

 

“Maru-ji!”  Naruto goes on before anyone can say anything.  His hands flap erratically through the air.  “We learned about you today in class!  We learned about the Sannin!  You're not just a Jounin!  You're the Snake Sannin!  You’re as strong as Hokage-jijii!  Why didn't you tell me?!”

 

A beat of silence, and then Anko keels over in a fit of cackles, Kougyoku hissing along because the two of them have the exact same bizarre sense of humour.  It’s not even that funny, in Orochimaru’s opinion, but for some reason, his apprentice finds just about everything Naruto says and does absolutely hilarious.  That, or insolent, whenever the boy calls her fat or old or greedy or – once – saggy.  Orochimaru doesn't know why Naruto continues doing it; the kid gets beaten up every single time.  Honestly, it’s occasions like that that makes Orochimaru compare Naruto to Jiraiya.  If the boy becomes a pervert once he hits his teens, Orochimaru swears he’ll kick him out of the house.

 

“It wasn't important,” He dismisses, tuning out Anko’s laughter.

 

“But-!   But-!”  Naruto splutters, momentarily speechless.  “You're one of the strongest ninja in the entire world!  Of course that’s important!”

 

“To letting you live with me?”  Orochimaru enquires pointedly.

 

Naruto opens his mouth, and then shuts it again with a click.

 

“...I still woulda liked to know,” He grouches petulantly.  He turns a baleful glower on Anko.  “And you never actually explained it even though you mentioned it a couple times!”

 

“You never asked again after that one time,” Anko retorts, still looking immensely entertained.

 

“I shouldn't have to!”  Naruto protests but he doesn't kick up much more of a fuss than that as he dumps his bag on a chair before clambering into another.  Excitement can’t begin to describe the look on Naruto’s face as he concentrates on Orochimaru.  “We learned about the Toad Sannin and the Slug Sannin too!  They were your teammates, right?  And you were all Jijii’s students!”

 

Orochimaru’s fingers tighten briefly around the cup in his hands.  The laughter drops from Anko’s face.

 

“Yes,” Orochimaru acknowledges evenly.  “Jiraiya the Toad Sage, and Tsunade the Slug Princess.  I have known them for a very long time.  We were a good team once.”

 

Naruto scratches his head, looking mystified.  “But... why haven’t I seen them?  They're your friends, aren’t they?”  Something like disapproval begins knitting his brow together.  “Why haven’t they visited you?”

 

Anko makes a noise akin to an angry cat at the back of her throat, like she wants to interrupt.  Orochimaru flicks a sharp look at her, and she grudgingly subsides.

 

“Jiraiya is something of a wandering hermit, you could say,” He expounds.  “He’s in charge of Konoha’s spy network so he doesn't stay in the village, and the Hokage allows him the freedom to roam where he wishes so long as he keeps his ears open to all his connections, and sends back regular reports.

 

“And Tsunade... she went through some very traumatizing experiences in the past, and she’s become somewhat jaded in regards to Konoha.  She doesn't stay here either, and for all intents and purposes, she has retired from the shinobi life.  It wouldn't do to underestimate her of course, but... she is no longer the frontline medic-nin she once was.”

 

He feels pitifully drained over wrapping up such a clear-cut summary.  Abruptly, he wishes he has something stronger than tea.

 

“...That makes you sad though,” Naruto observes with one of his maddeningly perceptive jumps.  “Or they make you sad.  And Jijii definitely makes you sad.  Do your teammates not trust you either?  Is that why?”

 

Orochimaru hums noncommittally.  He aims for detachment.  Aims for control.  “They have good reason not to.”

 

Naruto has the gall to give him a vastly unimpressed look.  Orochimaru is fairly certain that the damn brat learned it off him.

 

“I don’t care,” Naruto flips off caustically.  Off to the side, Anko is – rather unsuccessfully – suppressing a very proud smirk.  “Teammates are supposed to back each other up no matter what.  It’s not like you live a life of royalty in Konoha but you stayed, so that Tsunade has no excuse.  And does a spy network really take every single minute of the day to keep track of?  That Jiraiya guy can’t even make a short visit back here every once in a while?”

 

Orochimaru reaches out and flicks a finger against the boy’s forehead, making him yelp and rub at the red spot.

 

“You don’t know what you're talking about, Naruto,” Orochimaru sighs.  “Tsunade lost her younger brother and her fiancé, the latter of whom she personally couldn't save.  She was devastated.  And Jiraiya has never been good at settling down in one place for very long.  He’s lost people too.”  He hesitates.  “The Yondaime was his favourite student, and when he died, the grief chased him out of Konoha even faster.  Before that, he used to visit at least twice a year.”

 

Naruto makes to argue, of course, because he’s hard-headed and firmly in Orochimaru’s camp for whatever reason of the day, but Orochimaru shakes his head and doesn't give him the chance.

 

“What else did you learn about the Sannin?”  He asks instead, redirecting the conversation.

 

Naruto looks mildly rebellious but he grudgingly backs down in the end.  “The teacher just gave us an overview about what you guys were good at, and what you did in the Second and Third Wars.  He said that Tsunade is the greatest medic-nin in the world.”

 

“She is,” Orochimaru agrees.  If she ever gets that haemophobia of hers cured anyway.

 

“And that she’s Konoha’s Princess because she’s related to the First and Second Hokages,” Naruto continues.

 

Orochimaru nods.  “She’s a Senju.  Her grandfather was the Shodaime, her granduncle the Nidaime.”  He pauses before adding, “You do remember our etiquette lessons?  I don’t much mind what you call them in private but diplomacy and tact is often needed in public.”

 

Naruto huffs.  “Yeah, yeah, I remember.  If I ever meet them, they’ll be Tsunade-hime and Jiraiya-sama.  And Jijii will be Hokage-sama if some foreign asshole comes to visit- yeowch!”

 

The boy jerks back just in time as Orochimaru sends four senbon thudding into the table where Naruto’s hands were half a second ago, only the last one nicking his thumb.  The child’s reflexes are getting better.

 

“Stop teaching him such foul language, Anko,” Orochimaru reprimands.  Anko doesn't look at all repentant.

 

“And why’s Jiraiya called the ‘Toad Sage’ anyway?  What’s a sage?”

 

“Someone who specializes in senjutsu,” Orochimaru elucidates.  “Senjutsu is the art of drawing energy of nature inside their own bodies, and then blending it with their own chakra, which eventually results in Sage Mode, something that gives you a boost in power, as well as new techniques.  It’s not something that can be taught by a shinobi either; you need a summons to learn this particular art from, which is why Jiraiya is called the Toad Sage.  But it’s not something one usually starts training for until they’re well on their way to becoming a Jounin, and not all people have the knack for it.”

 

“You can do it though.”  And Naruto sounds so confident that it almost makes Orochimaru smile.

               

“I can,” He confirms.  “But not as proficiently as Jiraiya, and even Jiraiya’s Sage Mode isn’t perfect.  And Tsunade can’t at all; she never bothered branching out in that direction even though she has her Slugs.  The Yondaime knew senjutsu though, from the Toads like Jiraiya, and he had complete control over his Sage Mode.  Perhaps you could learn one day as well.  Jiraiya will return sooner or later; if you ask, I'm sure he’d be willing to let you sign the Toad sum-”

 

“But I want the Snake summons!”  Naruto cuts him off, and Orochimaru blinks, startled with the beginning stirs of oh no.  Naruto suddenly looks ready to pitch a full-blown tantrum.  “Why are you so surprised?!  I’ve been saying that for almost two years now!  Did you think I was kidding?  What the heck am I supposed to do with a toad?  Or hell, a slug?  Snakes are the coolest!”

 

Oh, Orochimaru thinks with fatalistic pragmatism.  Jiraiya is going to murder me for this.

 

It’s his own damn fault for not being here, another voice in his head fires back.  And Snakes are the best, certainly better than those warty Toads.  Would you really be alright if your kid went around with Toads instead of Snakes?

 

He’s not my kid, Orochimaru spits back venomously, disregarding the fact that arguing with himself probably isn’t a sign of sound mental health.  And his father would want him to sign with the Toads.

 

His father would want him raised in a loving environment, the voice shoots back.  And who exactly is providing that right now?  Certainly not that buffoon, and he was even named godfather.

 

“I can learn senjutsu with the Snakes, can’t I?”  Naruto is demanding.  “And even if I can’t, I still want the Snake summons, like you and Anko-nee!”

 

Orochimaru exhales on a long sigh.  Anko doesn't bother hiding her smirk anymore.

 

“Maru-ji!”

 

“Stop whining,” Orochimaru admonishes for lack of anything better to do.  “It’s unbecoming.”

 

Naruto scowls but doesn't continue griping, falling silent instead as he waits as patiently as he can possibly manage for Orochimaru’s verdict.

 

Anko is no help because she agrees one hundred percent that the Snake summons is better than any other.  Personally, that’s Orochimaru’s opinion too but Jiraiya definitely won’t be pleased-

 

“Sensei,” Anko interjects, cocking her head to study him with pensive eyes.  “When did you become so hung up on what Jiraiya-sama or Tsunade-sama or even Hokage-sama will think of your decisions?”  She shakes her head with a faint smile.  “It doesn't suit you.  You go after what you want, when you want it.  None of this tiptoeing around, and trying to be sensitive to other people’s feelings.  You don’t care that much about what they’ll think, do you?”

Orochimaru blinks at her.  He doesn't care, not about what they’ll think of him.  Their opinion of him can’t possibly get any lower, and even Before, whenever Tsunade and Jiraiya disagreed with him, he’s almost always done what he wanted anyway.  So no, he doesn't care about that.

 

But he does care about the backlash when it involves Naruto, because then it won’t just affect him alone anymore.  For all that Jiraiya makes one of the worst godfathers history has ever known because the man barely fought for the child’s custody, and hasn’t checked on him once over the past seven years (although Sensei takes some of the blame for ordering the isolation of one Uzumaki Naruto), the Toad Sannin is still family to the boy, one of the last ties to Naruto’s parents, and Orochimaru doesn't want to alienate Naruto from that before he even discovers the truth.

 

“I’m not signing any other summons,” Naruto butts in again, crossing his arms with solemn obstinacy.  “I’d rather not have any summons at all than sign some other animal’s.  The Snake summons runs in our family; it’d be weird if I brought home a Toad summons.  Don’t snakes eat toads?  Do you have a secret hatred of toads, and that’s why you want me to bring one home?”

 

Anko cracks up again, and Kougyoku hisses with sadistic approval.  Even Orochimaru would show amusement if his brain isn’t stalling on runs in our family.

 

This is... probably not good.  In fact, it’s downright disastrous.

 

But really, what else should he have expected when he took the boy in two years ago, adopting him in every way except on paper?

 

Actually, if he’s honest with himself, Orochimaru expected Sensei to have discovered his hand in raising Naruto ages ago.  At most, he figured he would have a few months with the boy, and then Sensei would find out, and Naruto would be shipped off back to his apartment while Orochimaru would be given a suicidal year-long S-rank in the heart of Water Country, and that would be that.

 

But it never happened, and now... this.  And he’s treaded so carefully over the past two years, hasn't he?  Oh, he’s careful on any given day of the week but not with this sort of thing.  Never with this sort of thing.

 

Mostly because he’s never really been in this sort of situation before.

 

“It doesn't suit you.”

 

...No he supposes it doesn't.  He’s more selfish than this, always has been.  And sometimes, like right this moment, it makes him feel like he’s forgotten parts of himself, as if he inadvertently surrendered them as well when he gave up on his mad plans for immortality.

 

And now he’s being reminded of them all over again, except without the megalomaniacal tendencies to go with them.

 

Well, he’s already done a lot of things his old team won’t like when they find out.  What’s one more?

 

(Besides, when Naruto one day finds out about him, even if that’s years down the road, Orochimaru will lose the boy anyway, and Jiraiya will have his godson back.  In the meantime, Orochimaru will take what he can get.)

 

And honestly, toads.

 

“Fine,” Orochimaru concedes at last.  “But on the condition that you become a Chuunin first.  Snakes are more temperamental-”

 

“We sssimply have higher ssstandardsss,” Kougyoku corrects with an offended look.

 

“-than most summons.  Handling them as a fresh Genin won’t do you any favours.”

 

Naruto leaps to his feet with a whoop, chair skidding back noisily as he throws his arms in the air in celebration.  “This is your promise, Maru-ji!  That means no take-backs!  And just you wait!  I'm gonna become a Chuunin on my first try!”

 

“I was a Chuunin by the time I was twelve,” Anko taunts.  “No way you can beat that, runt!”

 

Orochimaru sighs once more and leaves them to their bickering.  For all that they aren’t blood-related, Naruto and Anko are disturbingly similar.

 

He glances out an open window as he passes it on his way to the kitchen.  The sky is a clear endless blue.

 

He wonders how long days like this will last.