Author's Notes - This fanfiction work is basically my creative input on the formation of the Akatsuki and its members based on what we know thus far plus my own speculations. I hope you all enjoy
Disclaimer - I do not own Naruto or any of it's trademarked characters. These characters were originally created by Masashi Kishimoto. Thank you for your marvelous work.
The Heavens Shall Rain with Blood - The Rise of Akatsuki
Chapter I - The Great Snake's Descent
Shadows crept throughtout the tall timbers of Konoha as night fell. The darkness seemed to cover the forest in it's cold, shadowy embrace. However, the cold embrace of today were not felt during the moon's rise, but rather upon the sun's descent. As the night coontinued to spread, certain shadows began to play tricks on the eyes. As one's eyes adjust, they could see these shadows were in fact human. A total of five shadows were giving chase to one through the ancient treetops. After a few minutes of chase, one of the shadows fell from the treetops to the hard, rocky earth below. As the figure hit his place of final rest, a kunai blade sticking through his forehead. This man was one of the elite of the Konoha ninjas, one of the ANBU, evident by his ninja armour and animal print mask. The four remaining shadows tailing the one were also ANBU members as well; the leader of the group turned to look at his fallen comrade, cursing under his breath as he continued to presue after his target. As the chase continued, the shadow ahead of them stopped suddenly on a nearby branch ahead, his back facing his presuers. The remaining ANBU stopped several feet behind the man standing on the branch, drawing their weapons as they prepare for battle.
" Remember who we are dealing with here. He is no longer our ally and must be treated as an enemy." the leader of the group said to the remaining three ANBU nins with him. The three nodded. The leader thought to himself; now I only need to convience myself of this. As the leader jumped towards the man, he suddenly disappeared from the branch without a trace.
The Leader felt a chill run down his spine as he detected a huge amount of chakra coming from behind him and his men. The man turned around as to warm his men of the impeding danger, but before the words could escape his lips, his mens' lives have been forfieted to battle. A brillant flash could be seen running through the dark shadows of the trees as all three of the remaining ANBU nins' bodies fell towards the soft embrace of the earth like their brothen moments before. The leader looked on in horror as his men fell, but quickly composed himself when he realized who in fact he was dealing with. The shadowy man then jumped to the ground several feet ahead of the last ANBU's fallen men. The ANBU made his way to the group, standing in front of his men, but several feet away from their killer. Even though the black, oily hair of the man, as well as the shadows of the night kept the face of this demon hidden to the night, the last remaining ANBU nin knew that a sinister crept across the man's face. Suddenly, some laughter could be heard escaping the mystery man's lips, blending with the forest wind to create something more sinister.
" Ku ku ku. Again, it can be seen that your village has always produced such weak and pathetic ninjas. What a waste... of my talents. Wouldn't you agree Jiraiya? Ku ku ku." The shadowy man said as he continued to laugh.
At this point, the lone ANBU removed his mask to realize an older man. The man was exhausted from the chase having to put an effort in keeping up as well as the shock of the information he was still trying to absorb. The man was of bigger build then his opponent, but this usually meant nothing in ninja battles, if anything, his slimmer opponent had an edge for being faster. Two red lines can be seen running underneath the man's eyes and along his cheeks until under his chin. His long, white, spikey hair and bangs were standing on end as the other man's words register into his brain.
" Why? Why are you...? We, who are called the Sannin, haven't we been comrades since childhood?" said Jiraiya in reply. The wind blew the hair away from the other man's face realizing a slender face with visible high cheek bones, his skin was as plae as the moon that hung overhead. His long black, oily hair continued to blow in the wind. The man's sinister, slender, sharp eyes peircing into Jiraiya's heart as hint of madness could be seen. The man standing before appeared to be more of a snake who had assumed a human form.
" You are such a simple person Jiraiya. Whatever you do, you just do not put in enough effort to think. That is why you did not notice what I was doing." The man said mockingly to his former comrade.
" You won't reconsider, Orochimaru?" Jiraiya said, almost pleading for him to come back.
" Enough! There is a limit to even your stupity!" Orochimaru said, the same smile still plastered on his lips that made him look inhuman, charging towards Jiraiya for their final battle.
Hours Later.
" We found him! Over here!" said a strange voice through the shadows.
As Jiraiya opened his eyes, he saw the fact that the voice belonged to one of his allies from Konoha, a medical ninja to be exact. The medical nin placed his hands on Ninja's chest which was bleeding heavily, forming chakra into his hands to try and stop the bleeding. Another few shadows descended upon the scene. These were also other medical nins as well as one other who was leading them. It was none other then Jiraiya's teacher, Sarutobi, also known as the Sandaime Hokage, the leader of Kohonakagure, the Hidden Leaf Village. Sarutobi looked down at his student with much concern (which wasn't unusual since Jiraiya was always the troublemaker in their group). Sarutobi had certainly grew alot older over the years Jiraiya thought to himself. The wrinkles in his face and underneath his eyes were evident, also his beard and hair has begun to grow greyer and greyer with each passing season. Sarutobi kneeled beside his wounded student, resting his hand on Jiraiya's shoulder.
" I failed Sarutobi-sensei." Jiraiya said cringing in pain from both his wound and their loss.
" No Jiraiya, I am the one who failed." Sarutobi replied, patting Jiraiya on the shoulder, some tears falling from his eyes as he gently wipes them.
" I think it is trully time to pass on the name of Hokage to someone else." Sarutobi said, standing up and staring deeply at the night sky. Jiraiya drifted off as the medical nins continued to mend to his wounds.
Days Later.
" What do you mean!?" Yelled a bandaged Jiraiya as he slammed his han on the Hokage's desk in protest.
Jiraiya's wounds had obviously started to heal up very nicely as he stood before his former sensei, Sarutobi. Sarutobi sat behind his desk piled with many papers and family photos of his wife and sons. Two ANBU bodyguards stood firmly by his side. The office was round, decorated with portraits of his teachers, the pervious two Hokages, the Shodaime Hokage and Nidaime Hokage, the creators of Konohakagure. There were many shelves with many, many scrolls aligning the walls. A window behind Sarutobi, allowing him to see all of Konohakagure as well as the Hokage mountain momentuem. The Hokage momentuem was decorated by carving the visage of all three of the Hokages of Konohakagure. Perserved in stone to remind the people of Konohakagure the legacy left by these three great men and continuing inspirtaion for future generations. To the far left was the Shodaime Hokage, in the center was the Nidaime Hokage and to the far right was Sarutobi's visage.
" Exactly what I said Jiraiya. I can not afford to spend anymore resources on this Orochimaru matter. I have lost too many good men to him already." Sarutobi said as he wiped the stress from his eyelids, turning from the window to face his former student.
" I am not requesting any further men sensei! I am asking for supplies! I will retreive Orochimaru myself and bring him for questioning!" Jiraiya said in reply, his hand still firmly placed on his teacher's desk.
" I still refuse Jiraiya. You are needed for more important matters. Besides, Orochimaru has made his choice." Sarutobi said as he reached for his pipe, lighting it and then producing to take a puff.
" I know this is wartime sensei! That is why I am thinking it is important we retreive Orochimaru now, before he defects to another village!" Jiraiya continued to protest.
" Jiraiya. We have already estimated Orochimaru's defection to another village. However, we are ready for this if need be. Orochimaru is not out top priority though at this moment." Sarutobi replied as he took another puff of his pipe.
" Fine. I will do it with or without your permission!" Jiraiya said as he turned around and headed for the door.
" Jiraiya! Don't be a fool!" Sarutobi yelled out as he stood at his desk, slamming his hands on his desk.
" You are the fool, old man! You are willing to abandon our ally so easily when he needs us!" Jiraiya yelled back.
" Jiraiya! I was a fool, for not stopping Orochimaru sooner. The Orochimaru you know is gone! I am not going to watch someone else throw their life away on such a lost cause!" Sarutobi yelled as Jiraiya left the Hokage's office, slamming the door behind him.
It wouldn't be until years later that Jiraiya finally came to understand why Sarutobi tried to stop him. Sarutobi let out a sigh, a new wrinkle forming on his forehead due to Jiraiya's blunt words. Sarutobi looked towards the Hokage momentuem for inspiration in these trying times. Everytime he had looked at it previously over the last ten years, he would always imagine Orochimaru's face being the next face to carved into the cliffside. Deep in his heart, Sarutobi had always wished that Orochimaru would have followed his footsteps as the next Hokage, always seeing such potential in him. Sarutobi had wished that his former student would aspire to far better things then he himself or any of the pervious Hokages. When Sarutobi looked upon the momentuem now, he saw no such image. Sarutobi knew this would never come to pass now.
" Hokage-sama? Do you wish us to follow him?" The ANBU nin to the left asked. Sarutobi sighed.
" No, there will be no need for that." Sarutobi knew that Jiraiya would leave regardless, there was nothing he could do about it.
Sarutobi thought for a moment about sending ANBU tracers after Jiraiya. However, they would only slow him down and be more of a hinderance to Jiraiya's mission anyway. Sarutobi continued to look out the window, this time, looking upon the village. The village and it's people had always be his inspirtaion for continuing on. However, after what Orochimaru had done to him and his village, Sarutobi knew it was his time to step down. He couldn't convience himself to bring an end to Orochimaru's life on their last confrontation. He had failed as a teacher and a Hokage. He could not even protect his village from one of their own, one who he always knew had these intentions but continued to ignore. In these warring times, the village needed new leadership; someone who was willing to do what he no longer could. Someone who could lead them proudly and strongly in these trying times. Sarutobi knew the times ahead would be rough, Orochimaru's departure and betrayal was evident of that. However, deep in his heart, Sarutobi had hope for Jiraiya and wished him success in his mission.
End of Chapter I