Up on the cliffside

[smallstepstopower]

Rolling out of his bedding hadn't brought him to an unanticipated level of comfort. He'd been on his way back to the village and had been in camp with his teammates after all. No, the jarring part was the mad scramble needed to avoid taking a headlong dive over a cliff that hadn't been there when he'd gone to sleep, and it was more than enough to immediately put him on the defensive, back straight as he slowly scanned his surroundings.

No teammates, no -forest-. Where the hell was he?

Comments

[smallstepstopower]

"Somehow I find myself less than shocked to hear that." His voice was droll and he shook his head. "We'll ask about the currency before ordering then."

[orange_dattebayo]

"That is because you also realize that ramen is the best!" he threw his hands in the air. Wait- what do snakes eat? Mice? There was mental 'ew' at that thought.

[smallstepstopower]

"Ramen is fine, though I prefer tempura and boiled eggs." He paused and side eyed him before resuming his stride.

[orange_dattebayo]

He blinked at him:"Why did you look at me like that, 'tebbayo?" He scratched his cheek:"Do you think we will get into trouble in the village?"

[smallstepstopower]

"Because I was considering if you'd give me the egg out of your ramen if I asked." He waved a hand to dismiss it. "And if we get in trouble I assure you it will be your fault."

[orange_dattebayo]

He squinted at him then crossed his arms:"I am not stingy so I would give you. Besides, boiled eggs are cheap. I can order more."

He flailed at him:"Why would it be MY fault?"

[smallstepstopower]

"Because -I-, am charming." He blinked back at him, saying this with all seriousness.

[orange_dattebayo]

He blinked at him, then burst out laughing, holding for his stomach. "Ahh, I get it. Snake charmer joke!" he continued to laugh.

[smallstepstopower]

That.... wasn't even close to what he'd been angling for, but he hummed a soft affirmative anyway with a mysterious smile.

[orange_dattebayo]

"Well I am no snake, so your charm won't work on me so easily, dattebayo! You'll have to work harder!" Naruto exclaimed, putting hands behind his head. He felt victorious after saying this for some reason.

[smallstepstopower]

He paused, then turned in place and padded closer, leaning in and practically breathing his reply. "But you want to be charmed?"

[orange_dattebayo]

He skidded to a halt. Huh? Why is Orochimaru so close? He sputtered:"Huuuh!? What are you talking about, dattebayo!?" Yes, that's an embarrassment blush. "I didn't say anything!" Even his ears are red.

[smallstepstopower]

He smiled to himself and gave a lazy shrug before straightening and turning to resume walking. "Coming?"

[orange_dattebayo]

He grumbled. Ero-sennin had to deal with this every day? He rubbed his cheek and followed him, muttering darkly:"Yeah, yeah..." face still red.

[smallstepstopower]

He just nodded to show he heard that and easily continued down the street.

[orange_dattebayo]

He fumed and looked around the small village. Nothing special in his opinion. Some houses old and crumbled. Some new. Few stores with food.

[smallstepstopower]

Finally, after a bit of searching, he managed to find a place to eat, and he promptly moved to have a word with the employee at the counter, listening to the replies and looking relieved as he showed the person money to confirm. Only then did he wave Naruto in.

[orange_dattebayo]

Food! They had found stand with food! He hoped they had ramen! He basically skipped in, taking a seat with grin. "I feel like I could eat twenty bowls of ramen, dattebayo."

[smallstepstopower]

"They do seem to have it, but keep in mind that our funds are our funds for the foreseeable future." He settled beside him and skimmed one of the menus.

[orange_dattebayo]

He almost forgot about it. He flinched and laughed sheepishly:"Okay, I will stick to two bowls only," he sighed, rubbing his stomach after ordering food.

[smallstepstopower]

He hummed and turned to him once his order was in. "I'm sure we'll be able to get information on the workings of this place. Just view it as getting separated from your unit in possible hostile territory and you should be fine."

[orange_dattebayo]

He sputtered:"How do you classify that as FINE? Wandering around alone is not fine at all, dattebayo."

[smallstepstopower]

"Perhaps, but at times it's unavoidable and if you don't learn to survive, then you won't be in good stead later." He carefully broke his chopsticks.

[orange_dattebayo]

If someone told him before that he will get an advice from Orochimaru, he would have laughed like a hyena. He broke his chopsticks, smiling as the bowl is placed in front of him. "I hate when you're right, dattebayo..." he muttered, slurping up the first of the noodles.

[smallstepstopower]

"I'm always right." He reached over and took the egg off the top of his noodles with his sticks before focusing on his own food. Tempura, as desired.