Kunoichi Rumble:

Journey to the Land of Whirlpools

Chapter 1

Zetsu's Moment

Darkness. Silence. Everything was ready. There wasn't a soul nearby – nobody would even dare to exit the boundaries of the Leaf Village at this late an hour, especially if one were to take into account the last event that occurred.

Konoha's villagers were to stay as a group, to fight as a group, to help each other. This new established law was formed to lessen the amount of fallen shinobi.

The moon lit the hazy land as a figure made its way through. It passed craters, mounds, forests, rivers – all sites of destruction – until it reached its destination.

Standing above the chasm was the grim reaper himself. Perhaps the grim reaper in the form of a leech man. Zetsu stood directly in the moonlight.

'It keeps coming to me, and I continuously question my own existence. Who do I truly serve? Is it Madara or Pein? Well, Madara had better show himself sooner or later; I'm growing impatient as the days swing by.'

Zetsu kicked a single rock, causing the whole rock pile covering the chasm to collapse. In the distance, two men stood up. "Did you hear that?" the first whispered with a worried look.

The second produced a long katana. "We'd better check it out," he muttered in his deep, scratchy voice. The two made the image of teleportation, though they simply flickered away.

Zetsu heard the noises in the woods around him and slowly sank into the ground. 'My existence…' he started.

The two tore out into the bare open field. "Who's there!" the first cried in a whimpering voice.

'My existence… is to devour… to kill!'

The second man was suddenly pulled into the ground. He let out a loud cry before Zetsu had gotten him fully. "Chikaru-sama!" the first shouted.

"Get out of here!" Chikaru responded. Zetsu finished him off with a crunch beneath the ground.

The first of the shinobi dropped the weapons ready in his hand and darted off. It wasn't long before he was somehow tripped. "Who are you!" he whimpered again.

Zetsu gradually stepped towards him, his face and body covered by the tree's umbrage. "I am a messenger from the lord himself!" Zetsu roared. "Fools such as yourself stand no chance against me!"

The shinobi threw a smoke bomb and continued his run. Zetsu chuckled to himself again, this time popping in front of the man before he could get too far.

There was a scream, then silence… silence that took over the land once more. 'I really wonder what Pein-sama's reaction would've been.'

Zetsu resumed his original work, starting by falling into the chasm itself. His feet caught upon the wall, and he began to slowly move down. "Such a journey… it'll take too long for us!" Kuro whined.

"It's alright. Pein-sama wants us to do this. We'll do it. We can be a good boy like Tobi!" Shiro responded. "We have all the time we need for this… all night long."

It ended much sooner than they expected. Zetsu stood at the bottom, facing the final pile of rubble. He kicked one of the rocks aside only to see a battered up scroll lying there. A smile went across his face, and he slowly began to sink back into the ground. 'Interesting. Very interesting. It seems as though we have some more complications. But Pein-sama will be pleased. Especially since he's already found someone to replace Deidera. I would love to see Kisame's reaction to this – an old friend of his in the Akatsuki!'

And with that, Zetsu sank completely into the ground.

Pein sat in a massive chair, his fingers crossed, sweat dripping down his face. "Pein-sama," a voice weakly mumbled. There was no response.

"Pein-sama… will I really become stronger than him?" the same voice cried.

The Akatsuki leader sighed with a nod. "Not even the Uchihas could match your strength."

"But Pein-sama, will… will I be able to…" the voice continued.

"That's enough, Kitsun. You'll only make yourself weaker. Just rest for now, you'll be fine in a little bit. The only thing now is…"

"Pein-sama," a different voice said. Pein spun around and faced the figure that had just arrived.

"Zetsu-san. What is it?" Pein responded. "Is… she…?"

Zetsu was grinning. "Indeed, Pein-sama. It's time we headed out. Our targets are in a distant location, and we'll have to trek the whole way."

Pein stood up with a partially contented look. "Distant land? Where exactly?"

"The Land of Whirlpools. Within the region is a village. That's exactly where."

Pein headed for the exit at once, ready to leave. "Oh, and Pein-sama!" Zetsu started once more. Pein stopped and tilted his head a bit. "Will he be coming with us?"

"Pein-sama… please include me within this group. I… I must prove my allegiance… even if I am weak."

Zetsu stepped in front of Pein. "We couldn't possibly leave out the strongest of the seven swordsmen, could we? Kitsun must come. The Land of Whirlpools would be a perfect way to test his strength and abilities!"

Pein sighed once more. "Alright. We'll leave first thing when the sun rises. If you aren't better by then, Kitsun, you'll be killed before you can try any clever tricks."

Right then, the first of the sun rays began to light up the office… Pein's eyes suddenly widened.

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"What's that noise?" Pein hissed. "Do you hear it?"

Kitsun drew his thin blade at once. "I do. Shall I take care of the problem, Pein-sama?"

Pein shook his head. "No, that's unnecessary. Zetsu, finish them quickly and rejoin us."

Zetsu disappeared in a flash, leaving Pein alone with Kitsun. "Pein-sama… what were Konoha's shinobi like?"

Pein's eyes widened once more. "Kitsun…?"

"You said they were brave and strong… is that true?"

Pein shook his head at once. "Konoha's shinobi are nothing but meddling cowards. They fight as groups for a single reason – they're to afraid to fight as individuals."

"Will we meet such a group this time?" Kitsun asked. Pein was stunned.

"Kitsun, no group of Konoha's shinobi could stop you. And if they did, you wouldn't be accompanying me. You would be dead… most likely by me."

On the other side of the hills, Zetsu crept towards a team of scouts. "I really wonder where you are…" he started. A barrage of kunai came soaring out, though he simply moved to the side to dodge them. "Against the Akatsuki, you spies stand no chance! I have little time for you so…"

Next Time: Journey Begins – Spies Disabled