Chapter 4: The Village Hidden in Darkness

The pale morning light began to shine against the mountains as the five traveled on. The Sannin and their master followed Sonkai half-asleep for they had been traveling all night.

"I've been thinking much about what you said about your village," Sonkai began breaking the silence as Sarutobi broke out of his sleepy trance.

"If the Kurokage will refuse, I will do all I can to help you. As you know, our village has severed all ties with the world and it's been that way for centuries," Sonkai stated.

"I feel pity for your village. It's as if we are responsible for staying in the shadows, if we hadn't maybe this war you speak of could have been ended sooner," Sonkai said softly.

"It's alright. It was probably in your village's best interest to avoid the war," Sarutobi said as Sonkai shook his head.

"Our leader is a fallen one. Neither caring for herself or the village, just rotting in her chambers forcing us to do the same. Our village has potential, but we are forced to waste it," Sonkai explained.

"That's terrible, why would she do that?" Tsunade questioned as Sonkai sighed.

"I don't even know, and I'm her own son. I just hope one day, I will become the leader and change this village from the Village Hidden in the Darkness to the Village Hidden in the Light. That is my dream," Sonkai stated as Jiraiya lifted his head and squinted his eyes as he saw a shape from in the distance.

"Hey, is that the Dark Village," Jiraiya questioned pointing at the dark mass that soon became clear as to be a large dark gate to the village.

The shadows the mountain casted surrounded it darkening the village, nearly making it as black as the night.

"Yes, that is Kurogakure, the Village Hidden in Darkness," Sonkai stated as they approached the shadowed gates.

"It is now day, so most of the village is inactive, now is our best time to enter," Sonkai stated as Tsunade scratched her head.

"Why is it so dangerous for us to come when the villagers are out," Tsunade questioned.

"The main reason is that outsiders are forbidden, and I could be in great trouble for bringing you here," Sonkai explained.

They soon passed through the gates as Sonkai began to travel quicker.

The houses that lined the cracked streets, were dark and had an ominous look to them. Since the land itself didn't get hardly any sunlight, the trees were bare and the grass and plants were dead.

"Are you sure anyone's even here? It looks more like a ghost town than a real village," Jiraiya stated as Sonkai quickly put his hand over his mouth.

"Shhh, do you want to get yourself killed," Sonkai whispered.

"If I am caught with you, I will be unable to protect you, and unfortunately have to deny any involvement with you," Sonkai whispered.

"Then what's the point in even bringing us here, the Kurokage will probably just order us killed," Orochimaru whispered as Tsunade nodded her head in agreement.

"I will reason with her. She is my mother after all," Sonkai whispered as they approached a large stone temple.

"Follow me, we'll go in through the back," Sonkai stated softly as than ran swiftly around the sides of the temple.

"Sonkai? What are you doing?" a voice questioned as they got to a small door on the back of the temple.

"Dammit," Sonkai said under his breath as he turned around to see a tall elderly man with short, but greying black hair, wearing a long black kimono. Just as pale as Sonkai with the same eyes.

"Youken, I was just...," Sonkai began as the elder man looked at Sarutobi and the Sannin.

"Who are these people? Did you bring outsiders to this village? Sonkai, what have you done?" Youken questioned firmly.

"They are seeking help from our village, and I granted them passage," Sonkai explained putting on a firm tone.

"It is just like you to bring home stray dogs, I want you to escort them out of here," Youken ordered.

"No, this is the Third Hokage of the Leaf Village, it would be disrespectful to deny him his rights as one of the leaders of the Five Great Nations," Sonkai stated.

"We broke our ties with the Great Nations or any nation for that matter centuries ago. He has no rights here!" Youken yelled as Sonkai stepped up to him.

"I am the son of the Second Kurokage, I warn you to stay out of my way," Sonkai stated as Youken sighed.

"And I am the Kurokage's assistant and advisor. I have been looking after you since you were a child and you have the spine to stand up to me," Youken questioned disbelievingly.

"Yes," Sonkai responded.

"Typical, fine lead the outsiders through, but if this doesn't work out, I had taken no part in this," Youken stated as a small smile formed on his lips.

"Thank you, Youken," Sonkai said as he bowed and then quickly led the outsiders through the small door and into a large jade hallway.

"Wow, this is so beautiful," Tsunade stated as she looked up at beauty of the jade pillars and the design in which they were sculpted.

"This temple is thousands of years old, built by the first Kurokage that founded this village," Sonkai stated as Tsunade stared on in awe.

"Who was the first Kurokage?" Orochimaru questioned as Sonkai stopped walking and stood in silence for a moment before responding.

"...I'm afraid I don't know," Sonkai said in a strange tone as he began walking again.

"Then how do you know he built the temple?" Jiraiya questioned.

"Everyone stop asking the man so many questions, we should respect this village's privacy," Sarutobi stated as Jiraiya pouted.

They soon came to a large door decorated with two large stone dragons swirling in a beautiful design on each side of the door.

Sonkai grabbed the lever and opened it wide enough for a man to fit through as they all walked inside.

The room was fairly large and seemed to be made out of some kind of metal rather than stone.

A thin woman with long black hair that reached the middle of her back sat in chair next to a fireplace.

The remaining burning embers gave enough light to make out some of her features.

Same pale face and eyes as every Dark Villager they had come in contact with, seems to be a distinct trait that is only to someone of this village.

She wore a black robe that came past her feet, she had a thin face with high cheekbones giving her a wise look. She didn't look old even though she really was centuries old.

"M' Lady, I have brought the Hokage of the Leaf Village. They seek aid from us," Sonkai stated.

"I thought I told you to leave me in peace," the woman said in a soft but dangerous voice.

"You said that centuries ago, when will it come to an end," Sonkai stated firmly as the Kurokage lifted her frail form from the chair and walked over to a desk.

"Mother, we need to reconnect with the world, our village is dying," Sonkai stated as she struck a match and lit a small lantern on the desk.

"The world is nothing but wars and lies. Why should we be involved in something so vile and pointless," the Kurokage stated as she stood before them as the room was much brighter now.

"To survive," Sonkai said as she let out a weak laugh.

"We have survived hundreds of years on our own, the Leaf can do the same," the Kurokage said.

"Our village is in the same position as the Leaf's, if we don't do something soon we will just wither away into the mountains!" Sonkai yelled as the Kurokage's eyes widened in anger.

"Watch it, boy," the Kurokage warned as Sonkai lowered his head apologetically.

"Who are the children?" the Kurokage questioned looking at Sarutobi for the answer.

"These are my desciples," Sarutobi answered respectfully.

"Sonkai, take them out of the room. I wish to speak with the Hokage alone," the Kurokage ordered as Sonkai led the Sannin out of the room.

"Stay here," Sonkai ordered as he went back into the room and shut the door.

"People sure are friendly in this village," Jiraiya said sarcastically as he began to wander down the hallway.

"Jiraiya, what are you doing? We're suppose to stay here," Orochimaru stated as Jiraiya looked over his shoulder.

"Orochimaru's right, Jiraiya. Your gonna get in trouble," Tsunade stated as Jiraiya waved his hand.

"Yeah, yeah, I bet there gonna be in there talking for at least a good thirty minutes," Jiraiya stated as he kept walking.

"What should we do?" Tsunade asked Orochimaru.

"Tch, we better make sure he doesn't get himself hurt," Orochimaru stated as they followed on after him.

"Hey guys, look at this," Jiraiya stated as they stopped in front of a narrow metal door with an engraving of a hawk with a snake coiled around it.

Jiraiya grabbed the handle and shook it.

"It's locked," Jiraiya stated disappointed as Orochimaru pushed him out of the way.

"There's a combination, see?" Orochimaru stated pointing to a series of symbols.

"Think you can open it?" Jiraiya questioned as Orochimaru shrugged his shoulders.

"Maybe," Orochimaru responded as Tsunade put her hands on her hips.

"Orochimaru, what are you doing? You're usually the smart one, now your acting the same as Jiraiya wanting to get into trouble like this," Tsunade stated shocked.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to," Orochimaru said over his shoulder as a click was heard and the door opened.

"Rrrh, lets just get this over with quickly," Tsunade stated as the walked down the narrow passage.

A pale blue light shown at the end of passage as they could feel the temperature begin to drop.

"Is it just me or is it freezing in here," Jiraiya questioned shaking as you could see their breath in the coldness of the air as they reached the end of the passage.

They all just stood there wide-eyed as a large wall of ice stood before them in the cold metal room.

"What is that?" Tsunade shivered as she crossed her arms to ward away the cold as they approached it.

"Hey, is that a person," Jiraiya questioned pointing to the center of the ice as a figure was emerged in it.

It was a woman. She had long jet black hair that dropped to her ankles as her face was as pale as snow, and her eyes were closed only leaving the black colored lids visible as her bangs covered part of her forehead. She was clothed in a long black gown the fastened at the neck. Dark stones lined the neck in decoration.

Her finger nails and toe nails were black and claw like extending from her hands and feet like an animal. In a sense she was beautiful as well as terrifying.

"She's frozen," Tsunade stated touching the ice.

"I knew they were hiding something. I wonder why she's frozen?" Jiraiya questioned walking over to a silver sculpture in front of the wall.

"Hey, what's this?" Jiraiya questioned as Orochimaru and Tsunade walked over beside him.

"It looks like some kind of device," Orochimaru stated as all three of them suddenly turned around at a sound behind them.

"What do you kids think your doing in here?" Youken yelled as Sarutobi and Sonkai stood beside him.

"I told you we'd get caught," Tsunade growled as the three men walked over to them.

"Who is she?" Orochimaru questioned.

"Orochimaru, I would have never expected you to do this, Jiraiya maybe, but you never. You are in no position to ask questions right now," Sarutobi scolded as Sonkai put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's alright," Sonkai said as Sarutobi let out a sigh.

"She was the First Kurokage of the Dark Village, it's founder, creator, mother," Sonkai stated as Jiraiya looked at him confused.

"You said you didn't know who the First Kurokage was," Jiraiya stated as Sonkai nodded.

"I know I did," Sonkai stated.

"So why?" Jiraiya asked.

"Her reign over this village was horrifying and bloody. She drowned herself in power and waged wars over the first nations of the world. She is the first to start the blood drinking practices, as in myths and legends it was said to give unimaginable powers, and now we can't live without it," Sonkai said sadly.

"She shrouded this village in darkness, terrorising it's people. Turning our hearts black and cold," Youken stated.

"She is now hailed as a curse, Karasu, the black curse," Sonkai stated.

"That's awful, but why is she in the ice," Tsunade questioned.

"She was so powerful, no one could kill her. She was immortal and invincible, so her sister and my mother used a secret jutsu that no one knows, not even to this day, and sealed her in a wall of ice. Freezing her in time to end her cursed reign," Sonkai stated.

"After that day, guilt overwhelmed Lady Kurokage of locking away her sister in the ice that she turned her back on the world. She doesn't eat. She doesn't sleep. She just sits in her chambers waiting for the day when her sister breaks free of the ice and takes her revenge," Youken stated.

"So how old are all of you again," Jiraiya questioned.

"Does that really matter?" Tsunade stated annoyed.

"Come, we must go. The Kurokage has granted you stay the night. In the morning you must leave," Sonkai stated as Jiraiya looked up at him.

"But what about...," Jiraiya began but was cut off.

"I'm sorry," Sonkai stated as Jiraiya lowered his head.

"Let us go, I don't like it here," Youken stated as they left the room.

Orochimaru paused in the doorway and looked back at the wall of ice.

"Orochimaru, what are you doing? We're going to leave you behind," Tsunade called out over her shoulder as Orochimaru began walking again.

They were soon led to a stone room with three floor level beds.

"The children will stay in here," Sonkai stated as the Sannins walked inside.

"I will see you in the morning," Sarutobi stated as Sonkai shut the door behind them.

The Sannins got into their beds without saying a word to each other, the woman in the ice was still fresh on their minds.

During the night, Jiraiya shot up out of his bed.

"I can't take it anymore, I have to go look at it again," Jiraiya stated putting on his shoes and clothes.

"Are you serious? I have a bad feeling about this, Jiraiya," Tsunade stated sitting up.

"You know you want to just as much as I do," Jiraiya stated cracking open the door and peering outside.

"I know, but what if we get caught again? Orochimaru?" Tsunade questioned as Orochimaru closed his eyes in thought.

"I don't know what it is, but there is definately something up with that woman, something Sonkai didn't tell us," Orochimaru stated getting up and walking over to the door.

"So Tsunade, what's it going to be?" Jiraiya questioned as she bit her lip.

"Oh, alright! I'm in," Tsunade getting up and walking towards the door.

"OK, lets go," Jiraiya whispered as they crept out the door silently shutting it behind them.

"You remember how to open it, Orochimaru?" Jiraiya whispered as Orochimaru went to work on the combination until the familiar click was heard.

They opened the door and traveled down the cold passageway back to the room.

"Ok, now what?" Tsunade asked as they stood before the wall of ice once again.

"This was what was bothering me," Jiraiya stated walking over to the silver device next to the wall.

"It looks like you need to input a code or something...it might tell us more about the woman," Jiraiya stated.

"Orochimaru, you're the only one that can do something like this. Try hacking it open," Jiraiya stated as Orochimaru went to work on it.

"I don't think this was such a good idea. Lets go back," Tsunade stated as a noise came from the device.

"I think I got it," Orochimaru stated as a sudden CRACK was heard.

"What..was...that?" Jiraiya questioned looking up at the ice.

"Oh no...," Tsunade whispered as a large crack spit I right down the middle of the wall of ice.

"What have you kids done!" a sudden shout was heard at the entrance as Sonkai, Youken, and Sarutobi as well as a few other Dark Ninja ran up to them.

The large crack began to spider-web into many smaller ones all over the ice as a rumbling sound could be heard that shook the whole temple.

"Oh god no...," Sonkai yelled as they all jumped back as the ice began to crumble down until the whole wall busted at the pressure.

They all squated down to the floor and put their hands over their heads as large chunks of ice rained down in the room.

After the debris stopped falling, they stood up and looked toward where the ice wall was.

A slumped figure slowly rose up as the mist from all the fallen ice veiled her.

"It's good to be back. Now, where is my sister?" a dark, raspy but feminine voice questioned in a sarcastic tone.