Woot, finally got around to putting this up. The story needs alot of work yet, but for now im going to be busy on finishing another chapter or two. For those of you who love the canon characters, sorry, Naruto and the rest wont be showing up for a bit.
Naruto: The 10th Jinchuuriki
Chapter 1: Caught Again
I was running, running for my life. I could hear the pounding of horses hooves behind me, gaining fast, faster then I could ever hope to run. There was no way I was going to loose them unless I got off the path and ducked into the forest. However, that wasnt an option at the moment, for just as this thought ran through my mind, I was struck from behind by something sharp. Crying out in pain, I fell, skidding to a halt in the dirt, searing pain lancing down my arm. Using my left hand, I gingerly pushed myself to a sitting position, so that I may face my attackers. There were six men from the Firefall Gang, all on horseback, all carrying a weapon of some sort. The man who had nicked me with his sword was Genjen, the leader, sitting arrogently atop his stallion with a triumpent sneer apone his face.
"Thought you could get away from us, huh? Well, tough luck. It isint that easy to escape once we've set our sights on such a rare prize as yourself." Genjen said as he examined the bloody edge of his blade, eyes twinkling with malice. I just sat there, feeling the poison that had been smeared on that sword slowly working its way through my body, numbing me. I couldnt even feel the gash in my shoulder anylonger, and the whole right side of me was feeling odd.
"Now then, you just be an obidient little whelp and not make any more such escape attempts. And if your good, I just might not beat you senseless, how's that sound?" The leader proposed, motioning foreward some of his men, who hopped off their mounts and approached me. At that moment one of those still on his horse gave a sudden alarm, gesturing urgently down the path the way I had been running. Slowly, and at a leisurly pace, two men were making their way up the road, wearing strange black robes decorated with red clouds.
"Eh, whats this? Ghimga, Yentar, go and deal with those two. We dont need any more trouble." The two men kicked their horses to a gallop, bearing down on the strangers and brandishing their weapons. Those who had been walking our way stopped and calmly watched them approach. I wanted to scream out, at least do something to warn them, but the poison was working too fast; I could barely even hold myself up. Apparently however, my fear was ill placed, for suddenly both of the horsemen's heads were neatly decapitaced quicker then you could follow. I merely staired wided-eyed as the headless men collapsed from their horses, and the equines were quick to flee in fright. I then noticed something that should have been plainly obvious before; a huge red scythe with triple blades lay limpy at the side of the one robed man. Blood dripped from its edges unheeded, and its owner wore a wicked grin. He was silver haired, with eerie violet eyes, and by the way he had wielded his weapon he was obviously very strong. I couldnt see much of the other man, he wore an odd hat and mask, and only his glaring green eyes were visible. All of the gang members had been stunned to silence, until Genjen finally mustered enough courage to speak.
"I don't care who you two are, but if you dont want to die, you'd better get out of here!" The gang leader bellowed, not a hint of fear in his voice even though it showed plainly on his face. I had to give the man credit, he seemed mighty brave to me to be talking in such a way to a man who had just killed two of his men in a single swipe. The scythe wielder didnt seem at all impressed though, and he continued walking towards us, his silent partner following behind. When he came within easy speaking distance, he paused long enough to wipe his blade off in the grass before saying anything.
"So, you heathens dare to threaten me? I should sacrifice the lot of you so you may burn in hell!" I believe this last statement broke the nerve of the gang members, for I could clearly see them sweating, eyes darting around nervously. Suddenly the masked man spoke up, and his emotionless voice sent shivers down my spine.
"Hold on a minute Hidan. That man there, he's got a good bounty on his head. Don't you go and cut him to pieces, you hear me?" The robed figured pointed a finger at Genjen, and the gang leader instantly froze in fright.
"Alright, alright. But that still means I can sacrifice the others, eh?" Hidan grinned, swinging his scythe to rest on his shoulders, walking foreward with a grim purpose in mind. I knew this was the end for those unfortunete members of the Firefall gang, who had been chosen to retrieve me that day. I wasnt sure what was going to happen to myself; I was kinda off to the side, my arm barely able to hold my body up in a sort of half-sitting, half-lieing position. Even Genjen knew there would be no escaping from these strangers, he sat atop his horse in a sort of horrified trance, waiting for his death to come, his men mirroring himself. Suddenly it seemed, an idea had occured to him, for he sat straighter on his mount and nervously cleared his throat.
"Hold on a second. I know who you guys are, your from that Akatsuki organization, right?" I think my heart skipped a beat when he uttered this, for it certintly spelled the end for me if such was true. I glanced nervously towards the one with the scythe, for he had stopped his approach, standing there with a bored expression on his face.
"Yeah, so? What about it?" Hidan grumbled, obviously upset that he wasnt going to kill anybody right away, but still he refrained from it just out of curiosity.
"Well, I heard your group is looking for Jinchuuriki. What if I say I happen to know where one is?" Apone realizing what their boss had planned, the remaining gang members instantly cheered up at the thought that they might just get away unscathed. I felt my chances of escape dwindling away as the gang leader spoke, my hate for him replacing any fear. Mention of the taled beasts sparked a look of interest in the Akatsuki member's face, and even his silent partner was listening.
Here's my proposal, I tell you where this creature is, and you let me and my friends go. How's that sound?" Genjen was much braver now, the quaver gone from his voice as he looked down at the sythe-wielder hopefully.
"Well, what do you think, Kakuzu? Should we trust him?" Hidan asked of his partner, turning slightly to face the man. Kakuzu seemed to be thinking things over, emerald eyes narrowed as he studied Genjen. With a slight nod of his head, the man said no more, but Hidan had been around him long enough to know that was a 'yes'.
"Alright then, you've got a deal. Where's this Jinchuuriki you've promised us?" Hidan asked of the Firefall leader, wearing an amused expression, and I tensed.
"That girl there, she's got one of them tailed beasts inside her. I just gave her a dose of poison, so she shouldnt bother you much. My gang and I were going to keep her for a little while yet, but I guess she's yours now." Even as he spoke, Genjen was turning his horse around, back the way he had come. I realized he was planning on making as quick a getaway as possible. I saw a slight movement out of the corner of my eye, and suddenly something went sailing over my head. I watched awstruck as blood gushed out from around the kunai lodged firmly in Genjen's neck. I was sure he was trying to say something then, but all that issued from his mouth were some gurgling hisses, accompanied by spouts of blood. Eyes rolling back into his head, the man twitched once, then fell off his horse dead. The stallion hardly reacted, skittering sideways and pawing the earth, I thought this might be because of good training. Anyway, the other gang members quickly fled soon after, yelling in fright.
Hidan chuckled merely to himself, clearly having enjoyed causing mayhem, though his merriment was soured by the fact that he hadnt gotten to sacrifice anyone. The other man, Kakuzu I believe, passed his partner and approached the body of the once gang leader. Reaching down, he dragged the corpse over to the nervous horse, and flung the man up onto the saddle.
"There, this time I won't be stuck carrying the bounty." Kakuzu remarked as he grabbed the reigns of the horse, leading it as he walked back my way. I mentally flinched as he stopped beside me, glaring at me with those creepy eyes.
"Look's like he was telling the truth, I can sense the chakra of a Bijuu." I wanted to back away from him at that moment, but my limbs were locked, and my muscles frozen. Hidan came and stood by the other, eyes scrutinizing me.
"So, looks like you finally got a Jinchuuriki. That just leaves three more to retrieve, huh?" Kakuzu faintly nodded, and as easy as one lifts a child, he grabbed my arm and swung me up and over the side of the horse. Lying there in that ungainly position, I was right next to Genjen, and I staired sickingly at the kuni still piercing his jugular.
"Hey wait, arn't you gonna knock her out or something? I'd hate to be bothered with catching her again if she gets away." Hidan complained, frowning at me as he watched Kakuzu lead the horse back the direction they had come from.
"Don't worry. And werent you listening? She's been poisoned recently with a drug that will keep her immobile for at least a few more hours. Anyway, first we need to stop off at the bounty station." Hidan immedietly groaned, swinging his sythe down from his shoulders to rest at his side.
"Dam it, you always have us make side-trips just so you can get some money."
"Shut up. Money's important and you know it. Your just too involved with your religous crap to realize it." Kakuzu shot back, a little anger coloring his voice. Hidan snarled but said no more, following after Kakuzu as the man took off down the path. At first I had been worried we were leaving the Fire Country into strange lands, but now I realized this 'bounty station' he talked about was deeper into the Fire Country. That was of some comfort, at least I would always know where we were, if the chance of escaping ever arose. To say the least, my ride lying across the saddle was uncomftorble at best, and I couldnt even move to adjust into a better position. Not to mention the fact that I was next to a dead man, who kept bumping into me as the horse plodded along, and he began to stink too. My captors didn't once speak to me, or even bother to look at me much more then a few glances now and then, just to make sure I was still there.
It seemed like an hour had passed before we finally made it to our destination; a small town named Windfall Village I had once visited before. Instead of walking down the main street and attracting alot of attention, Kakuzu chose to go down the back alleys, and we didnt run into anyone. When we suddenly stopped at an old run down building, I realized this must be the bounty station. And sure enough, a secret door opened in the wall to permit us to enter. Hidan however refused to go in, and was resigned to wait outside with me while Kakuzu dragged the carcuss of Gejen into the building. From my lopsided point of view, I watched the silver-haired Akatsuki member as he paced bored back and forth.
Careful to not draw his attention, I was slowly wriggling my fingers as I felt the poison begin wear off. Kakuzu had been right when he said the poison would take several hours to dissipate, but he didn't know of my superior healing ability, an attribute gained from the Bijuu inside of me. All this time we had been traveling, my body had been using the chakra of the tailed-beast sealed within to nuetralize the poison flowing in my veins. Already I could move my upper torso, and I was pretty sure I could move my head, though I didnt dare try it. Hidan was still pacing when Kakuzu finally came out of the bounty station, a breif case in hand that undoubtably held money within.
"Alright, let's get moving. I'd like to get this removal ceremony over and done with as soon as possible."
"Have you informed the Leader yet of our capture of the Jinchuuriki?"
"No, cause if I do, he will make us rush, and I dont want to do that. I just might find another bounty along the way" Hidan sighed, but then again he didn't like to be rushed into things either. In silence, we left the town, me slowly regaining movement along the way.
We were well into the woods now, when Hidan suddenly called out a warning. Instantly Kakuzu lept out of the way when a barrage of kunai struck the ground where he had been standing moments before. The horse reared up in suprise, catapulting me from its back, and I landed a bit dazed on the ground a distance away. The stallion instantly fled in fright, but no one seemed to notice. All eyes were on the six ninja that had suddenly appeared on the path ahead of us. I noticed they all wore the head band of the Konoha ninjas.
"Well, we had heard that two of the Akatsuki members were in the area, we never dreamed we would actually find you." The lead jounin of the group scoffed, eyes alert for any movement from the two before him. I could only sit there, my vision was still a bit blurred from the impact on the ground, and I couldnt trust my coordination at that moment to get up and run.
"Hidan, you take the Jinchuuriki and get out of here."
"Wait, what the hell? Why? We can take these guys easy, what you so worried about?" Hidan sneered, swinging his scythe in a leisurly fashion, very confident in his abilities.
"We can't take any chances and let this Jinchuuriki get away. Just do what I say and go!" Kakuzu yelled over his shoulder, laying his money aside and approaching the leaf ninja. Hidan, obviously frustrated, decided to obey him this once. Running back to me, he grabbed me and flung me over his shoulder, running into the woods. I lost sight of Kakuzu quickly as the dense foilage closed in, and Hidan kept running for some time until we happened apone a small stream. Here he dropped me, rather roughly, then sat down against a tree to rest. The way I was laying, there was a sharp rock digging into my back, and I couldnt stand it.
Letting out a long sigh, I sat up and stretched, and immedietly Hidan was on his feet. I just stood there, stairing at him, my golden eyes looking into his violet ones. I knew there was no chance of me escaping a member of the Akatsuki, I had heard much about their strength. Finally deciding it was best to couperate at the moment, I merely sat back down. Hidan watched me, slightly confused, but he lowered his scythe nonetheless.
"So, what gives, Jinchuuriki? Kakuzu said that you'd be numb for awhile longer. And isint it customary for a captive to try and escape?" Hidan asked, leaning against a tree, eyes never leaving me.
"My name is Akane, stop calling me that. And its because I am a Jinchuuriki that the poison didnt last so long. Didn't you realize Jinchuuriki heal faster then normal humans?" I said in a mocking tone, picking grass from my red shirt and trying not to look him in the eye. No matter how I acted, he still scared me stiff, expecially after seeing how well he weilded that scythe.
"Hrm...Akane, was it?...Anyway, that ability dosen't come with all Jinchuuriki, and how was I to know it applied to poisons too, hrm? Also, you didn't awnser my other question." I sighed again as I realized I would have to give him some kind of awnser. Anyway, I was done running for my life at every moment.
"Well, you see, being a Jinchuuriki, my life is very hard. People like you have hunted me down countless times, hoping to use my Bijuu powers for their own gain. I have no family, and everyone hates me because of whats inside of me." As I spoke, I was suprised to find tears welling up in my eyes. Hastily brushing them away, I raised my head to glare at Hidan.
"I'm only 15 you know! I was just a child when my parents were killed by men who were after me. You wouldnt understand what its like to be a Jinchuuriki, to have everyone despise you." Hidan just watched me, as I sat there trying to wipe away the tears coursing down my cheeks.
"You see, that's why i've decided to give up. I've decided that I will go with you, and you can do with me as you will. Just as long as you promise to kill me in the end." I said with renewed forcefulness, glaring at him through blurry eyes, hands clenched into fists. Hidan didnt move or awnser for the longest time, merely stood there thinking. It was hard to imagine someone belonging to such a ruthless group to show any compassion for his victim, but I was quite sure at that moment that he held some sympathy for me. Finally, after an eternity, he pushed off against the tree and walked over to the stream, not looking at me.
"You don't have to worry about that. When we have taken the Bijuu from your body, you will be dead." He said in a quiet voice, eyes cast down as he staired at his reflection in the water. I could only nod my head once in acceptance, and I was sure he knew I ment it.
Chapter 1 down...several more to go. Hidan is a bit out of character in this chapter, and I hope to make him at least a bit more canon in the next. And yes, I know, my grammer sucks, you don't have to remind me.