"I can't. In case you missed us killing the Hokage and one of Konoha's elders." Not to mention many of Danzo's Root, and a few of the regular ANBU when Orochimaru was retreating.

"It's not widely known that you were involved at all, Rian. You're still assumed to be a prisoner."

They shake their head. "I'm not. And - I'm doing good here. We're releasing those prisoners we can, trying to rehabilitate the ones we can't." Getting some of them (like Juugo) to not accompany Rian near-constantly had been an argument and a half. Which they still haven't entirely won, they're well aware Karin, a sensor, is keeping an 'eye' on them along with a backup team.

"Sounds like you came out on top," Sakura says, voice quiet. "It's - if you did, why?"

"Danzo needed to die. It's - he ran a secret part of the ANBU. Root. They completed black ops missions without authorization from the Hokage. He brainwashed children to be his operatives. They ran... Horrible missions. Orochimaru was part of it; Emi says she was, too, for a while. Danzo was behind - so much suffering, and he wasn't going to stop. And Sarutobi-sensei allowed it for the longest time, and ordered... Horrible things. Permitted Orochimaru's experiments until he turned on Konoha shinobi, even when they were on children. He needed to go, too. It clears the way for a new Hokage; we figured one of our - Orochimaru's - old teammates would be the first candidates. They're both honorable."

Sesshi breathes out, almost a sigh. "That... Sounds like your logic. What're you planning, now?"

They shrug. "We'd like to be allies with Konoha, eventually, or at least not active enemies, though we understand with the invasion that may take a while. For plans - we're rebuilding Sound to be actually a good place to live. Then... We don't want this spread around, but we're continuing on immortality. But this time for everyone, ever - we think we can get working resurrection eventually."

There's a moment of stunned silence, then - "That's the most stupidly you plan ever - where are you even going to put everyone, you'll run out of planet sooner or later - how're you going to handle people wanting to kill each other - "

"We'll figure it out! That's really a technicality."

Mariko makes a strangled, frustrated noise. A very familiar one, she seemed to make it a lot around old Rian.

"And Orochimaru's going along with this?"

They shake their head. "You're - thinking of it wrong. We're the same person now, basically. There's been some differentiation, but not much. We both agree on this course."

Sesshi nods slowly. "...You're not willingly coming back to Konoha, under any circumstances, are you."

"No."

Slow nod. "So be it. I... Won't force you. Team? We're leaving."

"What? But - she needs to come back - "

"Sensei!" is all Sakura says.

"No. We can't afford a full-on war with Sound right now, and Mariko, you know she has backup. I don't want to risk this team against her guards, let alone Emi. Now, come. On." And she turns her back. 

Silence, then: "Yes, sensei," from both girls.

Mariko glances behind her as she leaves, but says nothing else.

Rian watches them go in silence, then returns to the base. 

This base has been compromised. They're not sure if they should bother moving again, though - arguably that would just compromise further bases, if Konoha keeps sending out Mariko. They'll have to talk it out with Orochimaru.

Emi intercepts them first.

"Rian. I heard that Konoha sent someone after you?"

"Yeah. My old team. I'm not sure they were even here officially? But they tried to talk me into returning. Left peacefully when I refused; Karin's keeping watch in case they try to return."

"Do we need to switch bases again."

Rian hesitates for a bit. "Probably not called for, I suspect Mariko will be able to track me no matter where I am in the Land of Fire, and possibly outside of that, especially as she gets better. But I'll talk it over with Orochimaru."

"Your call."