Shadows of Dawn

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer - I don't own Naruto; I own my OCs.

Author's Note - Again, this is thanks to my betas Dancing Roses and Sunny Rain and UnagiKeki! Also, thanks to Nutella's Biggest Fan for reviewing!

Part 6 – Fangs of the Serpent

-Tanakachi Kaoyumi-

A cool breeze drifted across the field, whipping through my long brown ponytail. From the trees I watched, in the comfort of shadows, as the noon sun baked a stretch of relatively even dirt terrain. The open field extended for a mile, I mentally calculated, patched with rocks and tiny clumps of hardy plants. The brown turf dipped and rose in nearly invisible ditches – they would be dangerous to the unsuspecting runner.

It was on the border of this arena that I waited with my sister, breath bated, tensing in preparation for the test soon to be announced.

I was exhausted, both mentally and physically; the adrenaline rushing through my veins kept me standing tall, however, my gray eyes sharp. My mind was abuzz; the last forty-eight hours still seemed surreal. One moment, Hanabiki and I had been relaxing in a small village in the Land of Lightning; in a blink, we were here at the Akatsuki hideout, about to be initiated into their ranks. My heart was thundering, my stomach flip-flopping; desperately I tried to force my feelings aside, reaching for the calm logic this situation required.

Beside me, Hana took up a casual stance, feet spread, thumbs hooked into her belt. She looked no worse for the wear; in fact, had I the thought to spare, I would have considered her almost eager for our task. Her wide lips were set into a shameless smirk, and her eyes glittered like emeralds.

Behind us, the nervous shuffling of our chaperone manifested itself. Tobi, I recalled, glancing over my shoulder at the black-clothed shinobi pacing excitedly from foot to foot. His expression was disguised by an orange mask spiraling outward from the right eyehole; nonetheless, his enthusiasm at having such an important duty – bringing us here – shone through.

I turned at the faint flickering from the trees - an obvious trace of movement - and had to stifle a gasp as the huge plant creature we'd encountered before thrust his way through one of the trunks. He then rose, unblinking yellow stare on us, and stepped forward in a whisper of black robes.

"Tobi is a good boy," the white side of his face proclaimed before he licked his lips. "Soon there will be blood. I can taste it…yesss…"

I bit my lip but was unable to stop the hesitant query that was on my tongue. "They're not going to…hurt us, are they?" I finished a bit anxiously.

The plant-man let out a deep, throaty growl that might have been laughter. I felt sick to my stomach and turned away from our company.

As I glanced over the field I noted the approach of two more figures from the opposite direction: by their statures, Kakuzu and Hidan. The Leader's vague words echoed in my mind: Fetch Kakuzu and Hidan. It's time for their initiation test.

Our lives, once again, were in their hands. I clenched my shaking fists. No. We had to do something. Hana and I had come so far; we wouldn't die here, we wouldn't.

"Well," Hana said, shaking back her hair. "Shall we get this over with?"

"Wait until the Leader is here," the plant-man warned. "He will decide if you live or die."

I shifted, adjusting the leather protectors along my wrists and forearms. I flexed my fingers, mind already flashing back over our battle with the Akatsuki duo. Our information was minimal; but we had experience from last time, and that would have to be enough.

I took a deep breath.

In what seemed both hours and a single second, two shadowy figures approached us. They both hung back, keeping their appearances hidden from us; however, I sensed from the powerful aura emanating from them that this was the Leader and his female companion.

"Welcome," the Leader announced. He did not raise his voice, but in an instant he had the attention of everyone, even Hidan and Kakuzu a good distance away. "This is one of our many training grounds. I have decided to proceed with your examination immediately. Now listen carefully, for I will only say this once.

"Your task is to take on your opponents one-on-one in a fight to the death. If you should win –" He paused a moment. "– you will immediately join our ranks. If you simply manage to survive, then, too, you shall join us. Should I deem a stalemate or a victor evident, I will halt the battle immediately. The only way to lose is death – I strongly suggest you survive."

I swallowed hard. Any outcome, I deemed, would lead us to the Akatsuki – so long as we survived. Simple enough, but easier said than done.

The Leader turned away. "Hidan, you will be fighting the youngest; that leaves the eldest with Kakuzu. Proceed when ready." He added in a final note, "Do not hold back. Fight to kill."

Hanabiki stepped forward, eyes flashing. "All right, let's do this thing!"

The other Akatsuki, Kakuzu included, were calmly clearing the field. My throat was dry; I turned to my sister wordlessly.

"Hana…"

"Don't worry," she grinned, "I'll be careful." She took the words straight from my mouth. I nodded soundlessly.

Hana hesitated, then spoke fiercely, "Kao-nee-chan, don't you dare lose." Then she turned and strode onto the field.

Hana… She and Hidan stood across from each other, unmoving, analyzing. I closed my eyes and uttered a silent prayer.

Please be safe.

***

-Tanakachi Hanabiki-

My eyes narrowed at my opponent. "A rematch, huh?" I grinned at Hidan. He only grasped his scythe, a confident smirk on his face.

"Better amuse me, bitch."

"Oh, I will," I echoed coldly, falling back into a defensive crouch. Gotta catch him off-guard, I thought, my left fist clenching around the hilt of my sai. I'm faster than him!

I lunged, whipping my weapon forward in a flash of black-tinted metal. Hidan reacted, swiftly bringing the shaft of his scythe down to block. I rammed my fist forward, catching the shaft between the prongs of my sai. Then I was whirling, lashing out again.

Block, stab, block. The clang of metal echoed around us, accentuated by our heavy breathing. I grinned as we performed our deadly dance, my movements as swift and as calculated as a striking snake. Hidan had no opportunity to attack, his own weapon tangled with my own; I was holding him off, wielding the sai as I had my entire life.

Now for stage two, I thought, and as I swung around, my right hand found the grip of my second sai. I stabbed with my left, hooking onto his scythe and dragging it downward. My lips curling back, I swooped in with my other fist, a confident cry piercing the air.

Hidan's violet eyes flickered at the movement and he snarled, yanking his weapon free and pulling it up to block. The sai latched harmlessly around the smooth metal shaft, its deadly points only inches from his chest.

But that left my other arm open.

I arced in again with my left hand, and this time, I saw with a cold smile, he was too slow. Metal fangs tore into his shoulder, tearing straight through cloth and skin. A faint hiss of pain escaped him.

"Got you," I crowed triumphantly. I drew back my bloodied weapon, grinning broadly. I was right, I thought boldly. He can be outmatched in speed. And now…

"You bitch," Hidan snarled, slashing out with his scythe. I forced my chakra to my feet and propelled myself backward, lightly flipping through the air and landing in a crouch, out of range.

Now, time for long-range decimation, I thought, analyzing my options as I stowed my twin sai. I couldn't use the cloud snake – though I preferred that jutsu, it left me immobile and open to attack for too long. Here, I had to utilize speed to my advantage. I grinned, forming a chain of hand signals.

Most people are either inclined toward short- or long-range battle. As I had to train under my sister, who insisted on preparing for any battle situation, my abilities were thus evenly divided between both styles of battle. To tell the truth, though, I most enjoyed jumping straight into the fray and getting my hands dirty.

I slammed my left palm against the ground. "Earth Style," I proclaimed, my chakra flowing through my fingertips and winding its way through the murky earth below. "A Thousand Serpents!"
A low rumble shook the ground; instinctively I hopped backward. Just in time, too: a large fissure burst open where I had just stood, trembling and breaking off into more tiny cracks. Then a single melded note of hissing pierced the air.

From the earth arose an army of snakes, sprouting upward like mad green vines, twisting and flicking out their tongues. Countless beady eyes flashed in the direction of my opponent, and the serpents moved forward as one.

Hidan swore, leaping backward and lashing out at the snakes that descended on him. Thin bodies flew into the air, their hissing fading as they thudded to the ground, animal no longer but a length of severed vine. I sat back on my haunches, watching the assault. It was a good thing we were in the Land of Rain – I could only summon my animated snakes (formed, actually, from plant life) forth from fertile soil.

Despite his efforts, the snakes began to twist around Hidan's body and hold him down, fangs and thick coils sinking into flesh. This was my chance. I only reached for a sai before lunging.

Hidan sighted my attack and struggled to pull sideways, to free his blade. He managed to jerk his right arm free from the mass of serpents and, snarling, he flung his immense scythe. In midair I dodged, the blades whistling past me along with a rattling length of chain.

I was closing the distance fast, smirking, watching him futilely thrash – but my army held him steady and I hurtled in on him, arm drawn back.

"This is over!" I announced, bringing my arm slicing forward. My sai stopped, glinting dangerously, mere millimeters from his neck.

I was hardly out of breath; a rush of euphoria went through me now, seeing my challenger helpless. "You would've lost from the start," I panted, eyes glinting. I glanced at the wound on his shoulder, then, smiling, to the dark liquid dripping off the finely honed edge of my sai. "My weapons are tainted with poison. From this one, you'll die within three hours."

Hidan stared, wordless anger etched onto his contorted face – surely at having been bested by me, a young girl. Then, to my surprise, he threw back his head and laughed.

I clenched my teeth. "What's so funny?" I snapped, eyes flashing dangerously.

"You think," he cackled, "you won?! How brash." He settled on a cold smirk, "This battle has only begun."

"Listen, baka," I began angrily, about to point out that there was no way he could move in this state; a faint twitch of his fingers even as snakes coiled tightly about his right arm.

The threat died on my tongue. I turned slightly, hearing a distinct whistle of air behind me. My eyes widened.

"Shit-!"

A flash of red; blood spattered the ground. I gasped, completely frozen, staring down at the wickedly hooked blade protruding from the back of my left leg. Pain arced up from my lower leg and I choked back a scream.

In one swift movement I grasped the shaft of the weapon, yanking it free with a hiss. The tips of the blades, I noted with some relief, hadn't driven deep; the thick leather of my boot had slowed it, allowing only an inch or so to tear through the fabric and into my leg.

"Now you've lost," Hidan grinned.

"Nice try," I concurred, "but a little blood won't stop me!" I grasped my twin sai.

"A 'little blood' is enough," Hidan said, drawing the tarnished blades to his lips. He licked at the blood, amusement flickering in his expression at my grimace of disgust. He then lashed out with the scythe, tearing free from his serpentine prison.

Another unexpected move: instead of attacking, he leaped backward, creating distance between us, with the crumpled pile of lifeless vines and a few desperately twitching snakes at the center. I braced my weapons in front of me, refusing to let my guard down. I winced; despite my fierce talk, my leg stung irritably.

"You were asking about this earlier," Hidan drawled. "Watch closely and I'll show you the power of Jashinism!"

I scoffed. "I don't believe in religion. If you think that will scare me-"

I broke off. Hidan had removed a kunai and pierced his own hand, allowing the blood to drip freely to the dirt. Calmly he began to spread the blood with his foot, creating a large circle pattern on the ground. With a jolt I knew before he was finished: it was the same design on his necklace, a triangle within a circle.

"Behold," he grinned, standing at the center of the symbol, arms raised. I cocked an eyebrow, deeming this practice odd and not especially productive. It does, however, leave him open to attack…

I reached for a kunai before I was frozen again, staring in shock. Wordless, I couldn't come up with a decent commentary nevertheless an explanation. Hidan's skin darkened, lined with a ghostly skeletal pattern. He hasn't made any discernable hand seals, I rapidly thought. Then how…?

Hidan was grinning at my reaction, and under my stunned gaze he turned over the kunai in his fist and drove it straight into his thigh.

Sudden, pulsing pain!

I fell to my knees with a muffled cry, clamping my hand to my left leg. Through my mesh legging I could feel the welling cut; the edge of my skirt was stained with blood.

But…what?! I stared across at Hidan, breathing hard, face contorted with pain. He yanked back the bloodied kunai and tossed it aside, smirking.

"I aimed for a non-vital spot this time, just to be nice. Feel the pain? Isn't it excellent?" the masochist grinned.

"You…bastard…" I panted, mind working through a fog of pain. I had to stop him somehow, quickly, before he could kill us both. One hand tightly clenched over my wound, I gingerly swabbed my fingers of my other hand in blood and pressed them to the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!" I barked. "Three-Headed Serpent!"

A cloud of smoke blew over me; when it cleared, I apperceived a huge form towering over me, thick olive body coiled and glinting with patterned scales. A low hiss; three identical serpentine heads swung into view. Their tongues flicked the air, once, twice, the left head's mouth gaping with sharp fangs bared.

"This is," I panted, "my secret weapon. Let's see how you do against the Tanakachi clan's mighty god of battle!" That last part was intended to taunt him, my voice rising. "Gokai, Gekido, Rikou, attack!"

The three heads rose up. The leftmost head – Gokai – addressed me. "I sssmell blood," he hissed, hunger in his eyes.

"Attack, but don't you dare hit him!"

As one the heads snapped forward, their fangs slicing toward Hidan. My rapidly conjured plan was in motion; I struggled to my feet, catching myself and wincing as pain shot up my leg. This was my only chance…!

I threw myself into a run, my feet charging out of my control; I slid my fingers around the hilt of my sai, grimacing.

Under the cover of my serpent's attack, I flung myself at Hidan just as the rightmost head pulled back. In a flash I took its place, yelling, twisting in midair to slam into him with my hip. Hidan staggered backward, and my eyes instantly detected that he was outside of his blood symbol.

Now! I thought, bringing up my assault with several quick slashes. I stumbled, crying out, plunging forward just as Hidan, too, fell. I hit the ground, dirt nearly blinding me; quickly I rolled, already struggling back to my feet. A weight hit my side and I fell roughly onto my back, breathless.

Hidan's knee pressed to my chest and he crouched over me, skin returned to its pallor, smirking, breath hot on my face.

"Now it's over," he grinned.

In a last desperate effort I snarled, swinging my free fist and sai at his side. A strong fist clamped on my arm and I gasped.

"Just so you know," he added offhandedly, "there was no way you could win. Your poison won't even affect me. I," he grinned, "am immortal."

"I don't believe you," I hissed. At the back of my mind, though, a truth revealed itself: this was why pain didn't seem to affect him they way it did others; why he dared us to challenge him!

A shadowy figure appeared at the edge of my vision. "I believe," the Leader interrupted coldly, "there is no question of the victor. Both of you, stand up."

The weight was lifted from my chest and I sat up, breathing hard. I took time to gather my weapons, allowing my summoned serpent to disappear in a puff of smoke. The battlefield was suddenly eerily silent and empty.

I glanced across at Hidan and couldn't help the grin that twitched at my lips.

"It's only fair I let you have this round; next time, though, I'll be ready for you."

Hidan smirked back. "You've got guts, little lady, I'll give you that."

My tension eased; the battle might not have ended how I'd envisioned, but I'd learned a lot and let's face it, it was fun. Then the Leader stepped up and my apprehension returned in full force.

"Proceed with the next match. Kakuzu, Tanakachi Kaoyumi, step forward."

***

-Tenmayuki Minako-

In no time, Reinen and I had prepared our meager belongings and said our goodbyes to Zabuza-sensei and Haku-kun. The parting was harsh, the weight of what lay ahead heavy on my shoulders. My eyes lingered on the figures of our elder escorts and a cold, numbing fear captured my insides. Soon, we would be facing them in all-out battle, our futures and lives hanging in the balance.

Reinen had reverted to an unnatural silence. I would have been glad for her reassurance, but she, I reasoned, must also have sensed the importance of our journey. She bowed to Zabuza, quietly thanking him for all his teachings over the years; then she tightly embraced Haku, careful of his healing injuries.

"Be safe," she murmured.

"And you," Haku echoed softly. She reluctantly released him.

A flash of her usual grin returned to her face. "Don't worry about us. One way or another, we'll be kicking butt soon."

I smiled slightly. "Take care, Zabuza-sensei, Haku-kun." They nodded.

Before I lost my nerve, I turned and shadowed Reinen in the first steps of our journey, the sunset at our backs.

Already, now, a day had passed; the first night we traveled for the remaining hour of daylight before settling in a small village to rest. The Akatsuki hardly spoke to us except to give orders – with Rei's silence as well, it was an unnerving venture. The second full day endured over the Land of Water's moors and into the eerie plains of the Land of Grass. It was on a gentle hill here, scattered with rocks, that we took our reprieve. Though we tried to disguise it, Reinen and I were exhausted; our previous travels had been leisurely, but now our pace was nearly breakneck. I sank down gratefully on a boulder as Itachi made a request for firewood.

"Why do I have to get it?" Reinen demanded, flopped on the ground beside me. She sat up, blowing her hair out of her face. "You're the one with the fire jutsu; you get it."

She hadn't spoke so harshly since our past argument; I glanced up in alarm. Itachi, however, merely blinked.

"It is getting dark. Your eyes should prove more useful than mine."

"Oh? I thought your Sharingan could do anything," she snapped back at him. I flinched, wishing she'd stop provoking the stronger ninja.

Her target was expressionless, glancing not at her but the surrounding deciduous forest. "My eyes grow darker every day."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Rei growled, unmoving.

"Reinen." Kisame's voice cut in, an edge to it. "We all have our duties here. Go get the firewood."

She sighed heavily, rising. "I'm going, I'm going." She shot a dirty look over her shoulder at the Uchiha before sauntering into the trees.

I exhaled softly, trying to relieve the tension that had gripped my body at that near-confrontation. From all our time together I knew Reinen didn't always get along well with others, especially during first encounters. This display of anger in her, however, was new to me.

Itachi stared after her, hardly blinking. "She will fight him," he murmured almost to himself.

Kisame glanced at his partner in surprise. "I thought you wanted to fight her, Itachi-san. Do you trust that he has a chance?"

They didn't seem to notice – or care – of my presence, awkwardly listening in to their conversation without comprehension. A fight? Obviously, I deduced, they were discussing our upcoming ordeal. Who was 'him'?

"Does it matter?" Itachi allowed the faintest trace of a smile. "Either way, it would make an interesting match, don't you agree?"

"It would," Kisame nodded. "Of such a match-up, who would win, I wonder?" He grinned toothily.

They both fell silent, and I was left in the dark, wondering. I tried to muster the courage to inquire who, exactly, they intended to face Reinen… But though the words rang in my head, my mouth was dry. I stared instead at my hands – wrapped carefully in bandages covering my previous burns – and sighed softly.

This is only the beginning…

To be continued...

Translations:

Gokai (left head) – lust;

Gekido (center head) – rage;

Rikou (right head) – wisdom

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