Chapter 2

He had had it! He was tired of being paired up with idiots, especially weak idiots that couldn't even take out a three-man squad of Genins. How did that guy achieve S- rank anyways? The masked man sighed in exasperation as he chucked the remains of his dismembered partner over the side of the cliff. The river below would wash the body away. And no it wasn't the team of pathetic little Genins that had dismembered his partner. He, Kakuzu, had done the deed. After he had saved his partner's ass and slaughtered the pathetic children, the idiot had attempted to take credit for the kill and insist that Kakuzu hadn't needed to step in. The bastard's heart wasn't even worth keeping.

"A pathetic excuse for a man," Kakuzu grumbled as he made his way back to base. He didn't care what Leader-sama said, the Akatsuki, and the entire world were better off without the man.

"Kakuzu," think of the devil, or 'god' in this case, and he shall appear. Leader-sama's shadowy figure appeared on the road before him.

"I have another mission for you before you return to base. Where is Botaksu?"

"Dead." Kakuzu growled, "I showed him what happens to those that can't take care of themselves."

Leader-sama sighed.

"Very well. You won't need a partner for this mission anyways."

Her breath billowed out in clouds as she panted in the training area as she stepped out of her fighting stance, her kata complete.

"You have improved miraculously, my dear Aka."

Aka turned to face her Mizukage. She bowed respectfully.

"It is my honor to serve you, my Lord Mizukage,"

She was a child prodigy. Her skills were only rivaled by the prodigy of Konoha, Uchiha Itachi and his mastery of his clan's Sharingan. At thirteen she was already a highly accomplished Jonin, an elite ninja. In the last days of the war she had slaughtered hundreds of innocents at her Lord's command. Men, women, and even the youngest of children all died by her hand. Her loyalty was never questioned but always tested. And she had always passed with flying colors. She was now in line to become the bodyguard of the Mizukage himself. Only one thing kept her from that position. She was blind.

It had been a simple training accident. Poisoned weapons had been mixed up and she had failed to avoid being stabbed particularly deep by one of the kunai. She had spent two months in the hospital, her entire nervous system going haywire. Her senses were severely impaired. In the end, the doctors had been able to set mostly everything right, but the damage was done and her eyes were forever useless. Her grey eyes dulled to a lifeless shade.

Despite her new short-coming, she remained loyal to her village and she spent six months fine tuning her remaining senses. Her resolve and training hours increased exponentially. Through her kekkei-genkai she was able to develop a new way of 'seeing'. Using the moisture in the air she could feel the presence of objects and people. This in fact proved to be an advantage. Through her years of training, she had been taught to bury her emotions. With a lack of sight, she could no longer see the face of her victims. She could act even more efficiently and without a hint of mercy or guilt.

Now at seventeen, she had grown into a beautiful and deadly kunoichi. She was a prized asset in the Mist's ANBU, even with the war ended.

"I have a mission for you, my young Aka." Yagura leaned against the wooden fence keeping himself shaded from the late summer sun.

"I am yours to command. I am your tool, my Lord." Aka knelt before her superior. He smirked. She was ready.

"This is a solo mission. I am sending you to a small village in the mountains near our northern border. There is a clan there, with an interesting kekkei-genkai. They refuse to align themselves with us. That makes them our enemies. You are to eliminate them. All of them."

Aka nodded.

"As you wish, my Lord."

"When can you leave?"

Aka looked up at him, her face and voice containing no emotion.

"Immediately."

With that she disappeared in a swirl of snow. Ice covered the ground where she had knelt. She truly contained great power to be able to form ice in ninety degree heat.