Chapter 49

He was about to take another sip when, evidently one of the jounin decided to gather up whatever dregs of courage he could call his own and spoke up. "You shouldn't be here, tree huger?"

The sannin blinked, panning his eyes left and right. "Oh?" He chuckled. "I was under the impression that this was the jounin waiting area. Did I perhaps get the wrong room number?" Before the young man could answer he shrugged. "Oh well. I've grown to like it here. I think I'll stay."

The man marched over, he was younger than the sannin if he were to be any judge. He couldn't have been anymore than a chuunin for the war. Perhaps recently promoted, believing himself strong, especially with all his friends behind him.

Experienced ninja didn't bluster so...

Though maybe that was a common stupidity in all ranks of Iwagakure.

The man's hand slapped the tea-cup out of his and sent it smashing into the floor.

"Look snak-"

His now free hand lashed out, blindingly fast, the man could only catch sight of it when it had already found its target, pale fingers were wrapped around his wrist in a grip that was as strong as a vice nearly crushing the delicate bones outright.

The jounin moved to retaliate before he froze, a kunai knife just half a milimeter from his eye, as Orochi pulled him forward, turning him onto his back as he lay across the table then, the hand that had gripped his wrist was at his throat, holding him in place.

The knife was never wavered from its place just before the membrane of his eyeball.

The serpent was suddenly surrounded by as many jounin as he could be, knives and swords poised to strike several vital areas.

He kept his gaze on the younger man.

"Now look at what you've done." He chided with a tutting sound. "You've gone and made everyone tense. Can't you see they're concerned for their students?"

"Let him go snake!" One of the kunoichi hissed.

"And you've also spilled my tea." He groused. "It was very good. I'd offer some but you went and wasted it. That was just rude." He grinned. "What would your mother say if she saw such manners."

A sword dug into his back. "I said let him go!"

In the next second, four Anbu were in the room. "What is the meaning of this?" One of them hissed.

"Nothing." The serpent laughed, picking up the boy and tossing him towards one of the masked men, who hastily caught him as he stumbled. "Merely giving a lesson in table etiquette."

The Anbu and the Jounin looked as though they were ready to push this when someone, a Kiri nin, stepped forward. His teeth were filed to a point beneath his lips and a massive sword was slung over his back. He stood a full head taller than most in the room.

"Your boy there decided to get uppity. He threw the first punch here."

None of the Iwa jounin appreciated his interference. They'd been looking for any excuse.

The Anbu nodded after a moment. "Should this happen again, all involved will be confined to cells for the duration of the exam. This is your only warning.

The Anbu waited for the Jounin to return to their own corners before they eventually vanished.

Orochimaru sat back down on the table. The Kiri nin chose to sit across from him.

"You're either brave or stupid for comin' here leaf." He muttered.

The sannin smirked. "Perhaps. But more's the fool who paints a target on his back where once he had none."

The man shrugged, shifting the blade on his shoulder. "Not like they'll do anything to me when you're the real slice of meat they want."

The sannin snorted a laugh. "True enough." He eyed the man up and down. "I assume you've got your own students here."

"Heh. The best Kiri has to offer. They're strong enough to only be a two man cell."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, lacing his hands infront of his mouth as he leaned forward. "Really...rumor has it Kiri's suffered some recent unrest. Could it perhaps be less a case of their strength and your village's lack of it?" He chuckled as the man said nothing. "Need to put on a show to give some reassurances yes?"

At length, the swordsman snorted. "If we were to go on believing rumors, Konoha's on its last legs with your Hokage dead, that Kitsune biting off your faces and those clans of yours having no bloodlines in forever."

"Hn. Good thing we don't strive on rumors then." He chuckled. "I do believe I recognize you from my Bingo books."

"I recognize you. Orochimaru of Konohagakure. The so called Death dealer. You held the lines against Iwa with that teammate of yours before that Yondaime cut Iwa's balls and dick off." He grinned. "You're just lucky your Daimyo's navy was able to hold off the bulk of our forces at sea...otherwise"

The sannin smiled, paying no never-mind to the implied threat. "An apt description of Minato's effects on Iwa." He laughed quietly at how some of the other Iwa ninja seethed where they stood. "I pray you'll forgive my short memory though..."

The man seemed to take no offense as he grinned blue lips peeling back to show off those pointed teeth. "Hoshigake Kisame. The Monster of Kiri."

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